Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia is likely to leave the club in the coming weeks, leaving questions about how the Blues handle transfer business under a new ownership group led by Todd Boehly.
Granovskaia has been the single most influential individual in conducting transfers in west London, and the upheaval could present problems when recruiting players. ISOCCER has learned that she could go as soon as Tuesday.
It comes after the departures of CEO Guy Laurence and the sanctioned Roman Abramovich advisor Eugene Tenenbaum, as first reported by GOAL.
What Happens Next At Chelsea’s Board Level?
Boehly is likely to join Chelsea’s board of directors as chairman, with further changes on the way.
He has been in charge of transfer activity in the early stages of the market, but he is relying on the knowledge of others in the football operation.
Former club chairman Bruce Buck will stay as a senior advisor to the team after impressing the Boehly-Clearlake ownership group.
Related: Bruce Buck To Step Down As Chelsea Chairman After 19-year Tenure
The Blues also have head of football operations David Barnard and technical and performance advisor Petr Cech available to help with transfers.
Although the new board has not been disclosed, significant parties in the new ownership consortium will be represented on the panel. This involves billionaires Hansjorg Wyss and Mark Walter, as well as the private equity firm Clearlake Capital.
Further announcements on non-executive board positions for Conservative Party Member of the House of Lords Danny Finkelstein and PR executive Barbara Charone are forthcoming.
The new ownership group has high aspirations for the west Londoners, but many inside the men’s football business are worried that the delayed completion of the takeover may drag the Blues back in this transfer window.
🗣 “I hope it stays on the same level, hopefully with the same person.”
Thomas Tuchel doesn’t want to comment on the future of Marina Granovskaia at the club pic.twitter.com/8BF88chaHq
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) March 4, 2022
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