CITY have announced the composition of their first board under the ownership of Abu Dhabi Prince Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
As expected it will be headed by the Sheikh's close friend HE Khaldoon Al Mubarak with Garry Cook staying on as executive chairman.
Trusted business advisor to the Royal Family and the Abu Dhabi Government, Simon Pearce is also appointed.
Essex-born Pearce, as director of strategic communications, has been doing much of the ground work for the £210m takeover and he will also be on the initial six-strong executive alongside 66-year-old lawyer Martin L. Edelman.
New York-based Edelman is brought in for his high powered legal prowess and for his in-depth knowledge of sporting takeovers, having been part of the team that concluded the £1.1billion sale of NFL franchise the Miami Dolphins in February this year.
The other two seats on the board go to former owner Thaksin Shinawatra's nominees Taweesuk Jack Srisumrid who was previously an executive director and Victor Restis whose primary business is shipping.
Tribute
Although the pair numerically represent one-third of the board, they have only 10 per cent of the voting rights.
Manchester lawyer Bryan Bodek, the one remaining link with previous boards, is not retained though Cook paid tribute to him and the others who have departed.
"We welcome the new Chairman and Board members to the Club, following the change in ownership," he said on Monday night.
"The new Board marks the start of an incredibly exciting era for Manchester City and its fans. The Board and the executive team that we are building will be worthy of the heritage and potential of Manchester City Football Club.
"As Sheikh Mansour said on September 23rd, we are currently in a period in which we are reviewing the Club's operations and structures, with the clear intention to bring in more of the very best people to serve the club.
"Further announcements will be made in due course.
"I'd like to take this opportunity on behalf of everyone at Manchester City to thank all of the outgoing members of the Board for their work."
The new Blues board could eventually number as many as ten members while Shinawatra's representation will be cut from two nominees to one after twelve months.
However, one key position has not changed with long serving stalwart and City Hall of Fame member Bernard Halford remaining as the Blues' secretary.
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Paul, Warrington (13/10/2008 at 21:29)
The Real Mr Blue, London (13/10/2008 at 21:56)
The Real Mr Blue, London (13/10/2008 at 21:59)
The Real Mr Blue, London (13/10/2008 at 22:05)
2008 at the Swamp. Mighty Blues on fire. half time and it's 10-0 to City. Dunney and the boys can't be bothered with the second half and decide to go into towm to celebrate a comsumate performance. They leave Wrighty behind to play the second half on his own so they don't forfeit the game.
A couple of hours later Wrighty turns up at the boozer. "What was the final score?" says Dunne. "14-1" says Wrighty. "What do you mean 14-1?" chorus the City boys, "How come they scored a goal?". "Yeah, sorry lads" says Wrighty, "I got sent off with twenty minutes to go..."
I thank you.
The Real Mr Blue, London (13/10/2008 at 22:07)
The Real Mr Blue, London (13/10/2008 at 22:10)
Rodney Marsh's Sideburns, Withington (13/10/2008 at 22:16)
Phil , Sacramento, CA U.S.A. (13/10/2008 at 23:56)
StretfordBLUE, America (14/10/2008 at 01:20)
Wigan Blue, Wigan (14/10/2008 at 01:40)
Don't know anything about him, other than the fact that he held a nominal shareholding, was Deputy Chairman with Wardle, and was (is?) a solicitor.
I'm not saying anything against the guy. He could have stood next to me in the Kippax for all I know, and attended every home and away game for the last fifty years. But the point is, I haven't a clue.
Now you may think that was part of the City tradition (and I'm bang alongside the City tradition - in a tiny, tiny way I think of myself as part of it). All I can say is that the unseen directors at City with their power struggles and downright stupidity, led my beloved club on a sharp downward path after 1976, and a roller-coaster ride with far more dips than climbs. And it was the supporters, not the directors who pulled us out of the dips.
I'm not saying they were all evil people. I actually feel that Peter Swales and Franny Lee loved the club. But if Swales had turned round after a few months, been as honest as Kevin Keegan, and said "I'm crap at this", then where could City have been today?
Now we've got a new bunch of directors.
No 1 So and so. He does such and such
No 2 ...
Maybe they'll be just as secretive and mysterious as their predecessors. But I hope not.
Alec G Moonshiner, Kendal (14/10/2008 at 09:32)
True Blue Middlesbrough, middlesbrough (14/10/2008 at 09:34)
Its called"The Life of Brian" i believe its hilarious.
On a serious note who is replacing Tyroll?This is one area that needs addressing with someone who has a good understanding of our biased media and knows how to manipulate them to give us a more level playing field.
Eric, Dutch, 33 years and still here (14/10/2008 at 09:35)
And it wouldn't hurt to publice a bit of what the boardmembers do for the club.
RJKS, St Retford (14/10/2008 at 09:37)
Norbert Dentressangle (14/10/2008 at 09:43)
- directors responsible for specific areas (obvious I guess)
- profile of directors readily available so we all know who they are and what they contribute
- a return to a true version of sky blue (our shirts are a bit washed out at present)
- a return to the old round badge
I know there's more but I'd be happy with that as a starter.
John - sheikhing all over (14/10/2008 at 09:58)
i know it's the new thing to have board members and owners more famous than the players, but me, i'll stick with the 1-11 to cheer me up, or make me miserable.
or is that 1-45 these days.?
anyway, I hope they all do the £££ job for us,
AND STAY IN THE BOARDROOM.
cheers
Pravda (14/10/2008 at 10:00)
The Real Mr Blue, London
13/10/2008 at 22:10
Why???
Bulman, Bolton, Gtr Manchester (14/10/2008 at 10:07)
Whatever they have in mind I am sure it will be spectacular.
Deaf COMS 1 (14/10/2008 at 10:08)
Mr MXYZPTLK (14/10/2008 at 10:26)
broughton blue, salford (14/10/2008 at 10:41)
Alexander Nevermind (14/10/2008 at 12:25)
simon23 (14/10/2008 at 12:27)
Bill, Carlisle, Cumbria (14/10/2008 at 12:38)
14/10/2008 at 12:25
Nothing new there mate. The Gents in our section of the East Stand regularly runs short of paper towels. In addition, one of the soap dispensers has been missing since last season. I would have expected it to have been replaced by now. Unless of course we have a compulsive soap thief in the stand.
Another thing which IMO they should look at is doing something about the general state of the stadium approach from the East. It's a bit of a wasteland, with B of the Bang as the low-light. Really lets down the whole ambience of the stadium. The East Car Park is a disgrace and needs re-surfacing and re-organising. I stopped parking there last season due to the rough surface and chaotic exiting system.
As you say, hopefully all-round customer service will improve under the new regime.
It needs to.
Marcus Grant-Lipinski (14/10/2008 at 12:59)