GRAN-OFF-SKAIA
Chelsea confirm transfer guru Marina Granovskaia’s exit with new chairman Todd Boehly named interim sporting director
CHELSEA have confirmed transfer guru Marina Granovskaia has been relieved of her duties with new chairman Todd Boehly taking over the role of interim sporting director.
New Blues owner Boehly is wasting no time in executing his vision for the club as he aims to "challenge for top honours".
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And the American - who took control at Chelsea following a £4.25billion takeover - has announced a major reshuffle to his board of directors team, including the exit of 47-year-old Granovskaia.
However, it has been revealed Boehly WILL be able to call on Granovskaia for advice during this summer's transfer window.
A club statement read: "Chelsea Football Club today announced a series of appointments to its Board of Directors and other leadership changes.
"The announcement includes the departure of Marina Granovskaia, director of Chelsea FC.
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"Boehly will operate as interim sporting director until the Club names a full-time replacement, continuing the Club’s work towards its targets during the current transfer window.
"Chelsea FC and Ms. Granovskaia have agreed that she will remain available to Boehly and the Club for the duration of the current transfer window, to the extent required to support the transition."
On Granavskaia's departure, Boehly said: "We thank Marina for her many years of excellent service to the Club.
"We wish her all the best in her future ventures."
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Granovskaia has been a key figure behind the scenes at Chelsea for almost two decades.
She moved to London when Roman Abramovich bought the Blues in 2003, but was not initially connected to the club.
In 2010 she became a representative before joining the Chelsea board in 2013.
The following year she was promoted to chief executive and has since been regarded as the most powerful woman in football.
Granovskaia follows club chairman Bruce Buck, who has already confirmed that he will step down on June 30.
The pair are set to miss out on millions in bonus payments, according to the .
A "significant portion" of the £50million deal agreed with Boehly was based on their duo staying at the club, with their hasty exits meaning they will now no longer be paid in full.
Elsewhere, Chelsea revealed the following changes have now come into force:
- Todd Boehly - chairman of Chelsea FC
- Behdad Eghbali and Jose E. Feliciano, co-controlling owners of Chelsea FC, and co-founders and managing partners of Clearlake Capital
- Mark Walter, co-owner of Chelsea FC, co-founder and CEO of Guggenheim Partners, owner of Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Lakers, and Los Angeles Sparks
- Hansjorg Wyss, co-owner of Chelsea FC, founder of the Wyss Foundation
- Jonathan Goldstein, co-owner of Chelsea FC, co-founder and CEO of Cain International
- Barbara Charone, director and co-founder of MBC PR
- Lord Daniel Finkelstein OBE, columnist and former executive editor of The Times
- James Pade, partner and managing director of Clearlake Capital
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On the changes, new owner Boehly said: "As custodians of Chelsea FC, we now begin executing our long-term vision and plan for the Club, creating an outstanding experience for its passionate, loyal fans, and continuing to challenge for top honours in line with Chelsea FC’s decorated history.
"Working together, side-by-side, we are firmly committed to winning, both on and off the pitch. For us, that effort has begun."
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