Kenyon to leave as Chelsea chief executive

London: Peter Kenyon is leaving his role as chief executive of Chelsea after more than five years at the Premier League club.

Kenyon, who joined Chelsea from Manchester United in 2004, will vacate the post on Oct. 31, the club said on Wednesday.

He will stay on at Stamford Bridge as a non-executive director, which will allow him to continue representing Chelsea on UEFA and European Clubs' Association committees.

"I think we have really built a club, in a relatively short space of time, that can be in the forefront of European football for many years to come. That is a major achievement," Kenyon said in a statement. "I am also delighted that our relationship is not ending and I can continue to make a contribution to keeping Chelsea in that position and to go back to visit friends."

Kenyon moved to Chelsea from United after Roman Abramovich's 2003 takeover of the London club. During his time at Chelsea, the Blues won the Premier League twice and reached the Champions League final for the first time in 2008.

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When Chelsea lost to United in the Moscow final, Kenyon was criticized in the British media for going up with the players to collect a runners-up medal.

"Peter has done a fantastic job for Chelsea in the last five-and-a-half years and has been absolutely central to the success on and off the field we have had during that time," Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck said. "Without his football knowledge and business acumen Chelsea would not be where we are today."

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The most pressing issue for Kenyon's successor will be the appeal against a ban on transfer activity until January 2011.

FIFA imposed the punishment after finding Chelsea guilty earlier this month of encouraging 16-year-old French player Gael Kakuta to break his contract with Lens.

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One contender for Kenyon's job could be Karren Brady, who said on Wednesday that she will leave Birmingham if a takeover by Hong Kong businessman Carson Yeung is completed next month.