Ferguson holds key to success for Gill By Oliver Kay The Times September 10, 2003
The official line from the Manchester United boardroom yesterday, after the sudden defection of Peter Kenyon to Chelsea, was �business as usual�. And, no matter how predictable the message is, there is little reason to take it at less than face value. The announcement of Kenyon�s sudden departure to Stamford Bridge may have come as �a complete and utter shock� to David Gill, his successor as chief executive, but, while his opening message to shareholders and supporters was full of modesty, those who know Gill best suggest that United are in the safest of hands. News of Kenyon�s resignation spread panic through the City, where shares in Manchester United plc dropped sharply in early trading yesterday, but, at a hastily convened boardmeeting in London on Monday night, it was decided almost instantly that the appointment of Gill was the only logical response. Having served as finance director, deputy chief executive and managing director, he was the unanimous choice to take over as chief executive of what � despite the efforts of Roman Abramovich � remains by some distance the biggest club in the land. Gill�s transition to his new role is likely to be smooth, given that he was already responsible for the day-to-day running of the club. Despite his relative lack of media profile, he is well known to the FA, UEFA and G14, the self-elected forum of Europe�s most powerful clubs, for whom he replaced Kenyon as a vice-chairman yesterday. �I have no worries at all about David,� Sir Bobby Charlton, a director on the United football club board, said. �He was the obvious choice, the only choice.� The only area in which Gill�s expertise is less certain is in dealing with Sir Alex Ferguson, with whom Kenyon succeeded in establishing a reasonable, if at times dysfunctional, relationship. The United manager is a notoriously tough customer, although he may have reason to suppress his usual cynicism towards money-men, given that a new contract offer is said to be in the pipeline. �Getting close to Sir Alex is one of my first tasks,� Gill said yesterday. �One thing Peter did was work very closely with Alex and, while I was involved with player transfers, Peter was the point of contact.� Ferguson and Gill, 45, will make for a curious couple, given that one is a chartered accountant from the Home Counties � albeit, somewhat inevitably, a lifelong United supporter � and the other the son of a shipworker from Govan, but the manager should not be fooled by thinking that his amiable and well-spoken new boss is anything less than an authority on football matters. His knowledge of all levels of the game is impressive and he remains a keen and more than useful player, his 6ft 4in frame lending him a considerable advantage in his favoured position as centre forward. Gill, having earlier worked for Price Waterhouse, the BOC Group and Avis Europe, came to prominence in the business world as finance director of First Choice Holiday and of Proudfoot Plc, the worldwide management consultancy, before joining the United board in the same capacity in 1997. His ascent through the Old Trafford hierarchy has been gradual, but his profile has grown with every step up the ladder. An organiser of the club�s recent tour of the United States described him as �deeply impressive, a smart operator�. In Kenyon�s absence, it was Gill who represented the club at the Champions League draw in Monaco last month � flying by easyJet, the budget airline, although he joked that it was a matter of practicality, allowing him to watch United�s match against Wolverhampton Wanderers the previous evening, rather than cost-cutting. Little did he imagine, though, that he would soon be replacing Kenyon on a permanent basis. �It was a complete and utter shock,� he said. �I went to work on Monday and things happened throughout the day. But life goes on. �I was delighted when the board asked me whether I would take over from Peter and I�m very much looking forward to the challenge. The changes won�t affect what happens on the pitch and we don�t believe it�s a power switch. We did a lot of transfer deals in the summer and we�ve got the best manager in football, one of the best teams in Europe and the players will just get on with it. We have fans in this country and all over the world, which is what separates us from our rivals. �There are always changes in football � we�ve sold David Beckham and Juan Sebasti�n Ver�n this summer � and businesses are the same. Chief executives come and go. That�s the whole point of the business world.� ROAD TO TOP 1997: Joins Manchester United plc as finance director having filled the same role at First Choice Holidays. August 2000: Appointed deputy chief executive, replacing Peter Kenyon, who is made chief executive. July 2001: Promoted to group managing director. September 2003: Appointed chief executive, once again replacing Kenyon after his decision to take a similar role with Chelsea. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Buy Ink Cartridges or Refill Kits for Your HP, Epson, Canon or Lexmark Printer at Myinks.com. Free s/h on orders $50 or more to the US & Canada. http://www.c1tracking.com/l.asp?cid=5511 http://us.click.yahoo.com/l.m7sD/LIdGAA/qnsNAA/tsUolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> *************************************** Reply to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe to the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe from the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
