Kenyon

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

The Chelsea chief executive, Peter Kenyon, has insisted that the onus is on the chasing pack marooned outside the Premier League's top four to "get their houses in order" if the perceived lack of competition in the division is to be addressed.

 

The top four places have been occupied by Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool for the last three seasons, with only Everton having infiltrated the positions since 2003. Such is the sense of helpless frustration outside the elite that the Newcastle manager, Kevin Keegan, warned that the division was "in danger of becoming one of the most boring but great leagues in the world" after a home defeat by Chelsea in May.

 

Yet such complaints have been dismissed by Kenyon. The chief executive rejected the Fifa president Sepp Blatter's proposals to limit teams to only five foreign players, which might have helped redress the balance, and suggested the predictability of the competition lies with those playing catch-up. "We don't support Blatter's plans and I don't think there is any appetite for it across Europe," he said. "It will not solve the problem. We shouldn't dumb down and use artificial ways to get an even platform."

 

When it was put to him that clubs outside the top four had been reduced to budgeting to finish 17th, he added: "I don't meet that mentality on match day at Bolton or at Newcastle. Other teams in England should be knocking on our door: teams like Tottenham, Newcastle, Villa, Everton. It's more about them getting their houses in order rather than us coming down to their level.

 

"If you look across Europe, other major leagues are dominated by one, two or three teams, so it's too easy to say this is a Premier League issue. What's important is the way we distribute our TV revenues, which is very equitable."

 

Even with that distribution, the financial gulf that exists in the Premier League between the top four and the rest was illustrated by Deloitte's most recent report into football clubs' finances, published earlier this year but concentrating on the accounts for the 2006-07 season. That indicated that United boasted a turnover of £212m and Chelsea £190.5m - the London club spent £132.8m on its annual wages - while the chasing pack fell well behind. Tottenham Hotspur, who finished fifth that season, saw their turnover rise to £103.1m. Everton and Aston Villa languished even further adrift with £51.4m and £52.7m respectively.

 

Chelsea, of course, have benefited from the financial clout of Roman Abramovich in recent seasons with Kenyon insistent that the Russian oligarch remains as committed to the club, and the sport, as ever. "It's important that we in management do align with what the owner wants," he said. "When he bought Chelsea, he wanted it to be not just a successful football club but for it to be a force for good.

 

"He recognises how powerful sport can be in changing the social aspects of life and the influences it has on youth. He watches more football than anyone I know, and not just Chelsea. He is absolutely absorbed by the sport."

 

Kenyon also reiterated his club's desire to examine the Premier League's controversial proposal to stage a 39th league game of the season to be played outside England. The issue is to be discussed at the league's next shareholder meeting in September despite wildly held opposition among supporters. "We are supportive of evaluating the proposal," he said. "We have to recognise it's probably the global league in football. We have to be open-minded."

 

Internazionale have given up their attempt to sign Frank Lampard this summer. Chelsea flatly refused to sell and Inter have ended their spending spree after signing the Portsmouth midfielder Sulley Muntari.

 

The Inter director Gabriele Oriali said: "Now we must work on reducing the squad." The manager, Jose Mourinho, insisted he was not disappointed. "The important thing for a player is to do what makes him happy. If his decision is to stay at Chelsea I accept that."

 

 

Remind us of Chelsea before Roman

 

A - a team struggling to break into the top 4

[theredfella]

Kenyon is a dirty, horrible little t*at but the fact remains that had he been our chief executive, we would have fared a lot better commercially than we have. Revolting little sh*t he may be but by far and away the best chief executive in the league.

[Rich Gobey]

We shouldn't use artificial ways to get an even platform."

 

Oh the irony.

[Sion]

Kenyon is a dirty, horrible little t*at but the fact remains that had he been our chief executive, we would have fared a lot better commercially than we have. Revolting little sh*t he may be but by far and away the best chief executive in the league.

 

really? i really don't think he is.

[floyd]

If Kenyon died, football would be better off for it.

[Hassony]

really? i really don't think he is.

 

To be fait look at what he did at Chelsea, they don't need Abramovic's money to survive now and they are only making £100m loss every year, Plus he has made Stamfford Bridge into the La Bombonera of europe with all the white flags, and who can forget the great PR stunt when he led the team to get his medal in the CL final

[theredfella]

really? i really don't think he is.

 

Why not? United owe a great deal of their commercial success to him, the success that prompted Abramovich to poach him directly. Since his move, the profile of Chelsea has risen dramatically, aided obviously by trophies but in no small part due to him on the commercial side. They're far more commercially visible in areas like Asia and the like than we are although that's partly down to our ineptitude too.

 

I don't like the bloke but he's bloody good at his job and I honestly can't tihnk of a better one in England.

[Snoeker]

He does come across as a smug little twont though.

[drdooom]

and who can forget the great PR stunt when he led the team to get his medal in the CL final

 

I'm not sure if you're joking or if he really did this..?

[Stevie H]

I'm not sure if you're joking or if he really did this..?

i didn't know he'd done that either. is this true?

[Hassony]

I'm not sure if you're joking or if he really did this..?

 

I didn't see it with my eyes as I turned over the tv as soon as Terry f***ed up but I belive that it was true

 

from wiki

 

Kenyon attracted particular criticism after the 2008 Champions League final in Moscow, in which Chelsea lost on penalties to Manchester United. The winning side were led to receive their medals by Sir Bobby Charlton, who declined a medal having not been involved in the game. Chelsea were led to receive their runners-up medals by Peter Kenyon, who accepted one from UEFA president Michel Platini. The clubs' respective representation by a famed ex-player and a non-playing Chief Executive was claimed to be symbolic of their contrasting approaches to the modern game

[drdooom]

He outjosemied Josemi then, that really takes the piss. What a tosser.

[Des]

I think Kenyon should take his brand analysis forward at future meetings to discuss synergetic networking situations involving multiple constituencies and aiming to maximize interactivity vis-a-vis revenue streams.

[Stevie H]

his arrogance knows no bounds does it? a CEO taking a medal? f*** me.

[RP]

The best CEO in the business??

[theredfella]

The best CEO in the business??

 

In terms of brand development and driving a club forward commercially, I reckon so.

 

Who do you suggest is better?

[Des]

In terms of brand development and driving a club forward commercially, I reckon so.

 

Who do you suggest is better?

 

Kenyon and his like are a f*cking cancer in the game. End, as they say, of.

[Des]

And any football fan who talks about "brand development" in the game without wanting to throw up needs to have a serious word with themselves.

[RP]

In terms of brand development and driving a club forward commercially, I reckon so.

 

Who do you suggest is better?

 

 

 

He could be the worst in the League for all I know.

 

What makes you think he is any good? What exactly has he done to promote the Chelsea brand and drive them forward commercially?

[theredfella]

And any football fan who talks about "brand development" in the game without wanting to throw up needs to have a serious word with themselves.

 

I don't particularly like it myself but it's entirely relevant in the context of this discussion.

[Hassony]

I don't particularly like it myself but it's entirely relevant in the context of this discussion.

you still haven't given us the examples that make Kenyon the best CEO in the business

[theredfella]

He could be the worst in the League for all I know.

 

What makes you think he is any good? What exactly has he done to promote the Chelsea brand and drive them forward commercially?

 

As he did at United, the crest change was the first step. Ditch the old badge and bring in a nice new one for blanket rebranding coupled with a rather aggressive strategy at home and abroad. They have far more (although I accept that winning the trophies has contributed hugely) presence worldwide than they've ever had and most people who go abroad these days will say that their shirts and merchandise are to be seen everywhere, certainly with more coverage than ours. Like him or loathe him, he has to be given credit for that.

 

I really can't (although I may be wrong) think of another CEO that has helped to take their club forward so well. Their figures will always be blighted by the transfer defecit but in terms of their commercial growth, they are definitely on the up.

[Chili Palmer]

As he did at United, the crest change was the first step. Ditch the old badge and bring in a nice new one for blanket rebranding coupled with a rather aggressive strategy at home and abroad. They have far more (although I accept that winning the trophies has contributed hugely) presence worldwide than they've ever had and most people who go abroad these days will say that their shirts and merchandise are to be seen everywhere, certainly with more coverage than ours. Like him or loathe him, he has to be given credit for that.

 

I really can't (although I may be wrong) think of another CEO that has helped to take their club forward so well. Their figures will always be blighted by the transfer defecit but in terms of their commercial growth, they are definitely on the up.

 

I thought the crest thing at the mancs was done before kenyons time?

[RP]

Reasons why Chelsea are more 'popular' and why their shirts are now seen abroad more than say 10 years ago, IMO:

 

Winning the League (more than once)

Mourinho

Abramovich

Regular progress in Champions league

Winning FA Cup(s)

The Ingurland connection - Terry & Lampard

 

Basically, their higher profile is due to football-related improvement (plus, very importantly, Abramovichand his hundreds of millions). F*** all to do with Kenyon, as far as I am concerned. I have seen no evidence of anything he has done to warrant being called the best CEO in football.

[theredfella]

I thought the crest thing at the mancs was done before kenyons time?

 

On the contrary, it was one of his first achievements when he took over as commercial director in 1998. Given that they poached him from Umbro, doubtless they wanted to tap into his marketing and commercial accumen sharpish.