Goals Soccer Centres appoints new chief
Five-a-side football operator Goals Soccer Centres has hired a former commercial director for Manchester United as its new chief executive.
Andrew Anson will take up the role on 23 April, the East Kilbride-based group said yesterday. It follows the previously announced departure of Mark Jones from the top post.
Anson has held senior roles at Walt Disney, Channel 4, was the commercial director for Manchester United and also served as the chief executive for the England 2018 Fifa World Cup bid and ATP Europe.
While chief executive of internet sports retailer Kitbag over a five-year period from 2011, he successfully led its recovery in profits, “significantly” grew its revenues and oversaw its successful sale to Fanatics, Goals added.
While Nick Basing will remain a non-executive director of the plc board, he will hand over, with immediate effect, the responsibilities of chairman, on an interim basis, to senior independent director Michael Bolingbroke until a new chair is appointed. This will allow Basing to increase his focus and devote time to his role as chairman of the company’s joint venture with City Football Group and further its international growth prospects.
Basing said: “We are delighted that Andy is joining the board to lead the business in its next phase of development. Andy is the standout candidate to take Goals forward.
“I am looking forward to spearheading the company’s strategically important development of [its] Us-based JV with City Football Group.”