Shock exit of Chelsea chief amid rumours of rift

Chelsea Football Club chief executive Peter Kenyon shocked the football world today when he announced he was quitting the job.

The Blues' boss is standing down after five and a half years. There was immediate speculation that he had been sidelined by owner Roman Abramovich.

No official reason was given for the departure but it comes a week after the club was given a two-year transfer ban by FIFA over the "child trafficking" of French teenage star Gaël Kakuta.

Although Chelsea insist his departure is amicable, rumours of a split began after former manager Felipe Scolari was fired in January while Kenyon was away.

The club said Kenyon — one of the most powerful
figures in English football — would no longer work full-time from 31 October but will continue in a nonexecutive role and also represent Chelsea on the sport's governing bodies in Europe.

Kenyon, who pledged to bring the loss-making club's finances under control by this season, was poached from Manchester United by Abramovich in 2003.

In a statement Kenyon said: "I intend to take a little time off before considering what I do next but I am certain I have at least one major challenge left in me."