Chelsea recruit Kenyon from Old Trafford

Peter Kenyon, who has resigned as chief executive at Manchester United, has accepted the same role at Chelsea. Kenyon issued a statement confirming the report in the London Evening Standard that he was to leave United after six years - three of them as chief executive since replacing Martin Edwards - and take up a similar post at Stamford Bridge.

"Peter Kenyon has recently been offered the job of Chief Executive Officer of the Chelsea group of companies, a position that he has accepted. "Peter Kenyon has been employed by Manchester United plc for just over six years. He has enjoyed his time at the club enormously. "However the new opportunity that has arisen at Chelsea represents a challenge that Mr Kenyon feels is right to take at this stage in his career."

Kenyon, a lifetime United supporter who first went to see them when they won the 1968 European Cup beating Benfica, will be replaced by United's managing director David Gill.

Gill tonight admitted that Kenyon's decision to leave had come as a shock. He said: "We worked with Peter for six years and it was a bolt out of the blue but we have to move on." He added: "I think it's important to stress that we're just into the season this doesn't detract from the football side of things."

Manchester United plc chairman Sir Roy Gardner paid a short tribute to Kenyon, who joined United in 1997 from kit maker Umbro. "We would like to thank Peter for his significant contribution to the success of Manchester United on and off the pitch in the last six years. "David, as managing director, has also played a major role in that success, and we are delighted that his appointment will bring both experience and continuity to this position."

Despite buying 13 players since he took over as owner earlier in the summer, Kenyon could prove to be 36-year-old Abramovich's most important signing. Kenyon was a key figure in persuading manager Alex Ferguson to delay his retirement plans and sign a new contract and was also instrumental in bringing in Rio Ferdinand, Juan Sebastian Veron, who is now at Chelsea, and Ruud van Nistelrooy, as well as being intimately involved in David Beckham's transfer to join Real Madrid. Kenyon was also influential in bringing multi-million pound sponsorships to United as well as raising their profile with foreign tours, particularly in the lucrative market of Asia.

Kenyon's move comes just months after he dismissed the threat Chelsea posed on United's role as England's premier club. "We are not worried - why should we be?" said Kenyon. "Having money is not necessarily a route to automatic success. "I am quite sure they (Chelsea) will become a bigger force but it is our intention to keep Manchester United at the top, and we have the infrastructure in place to make that happen."

Filed by James Boylan