PREM SEARCH IS OVER AS MASTERS LANDS TOP JOB
THE Premier League will be hoping it is fourth time lucky having appointed Richard Masters as permanent chief executive after he ‘proved himself’ in the interim role.
Following a tortuous year of candidates either backing away from the role, resigning or taking themselves out of the running, the announcement yesterday that they had turned to former managing director Masters did not come as a surprise.
Indeed, several top-flight clubs are understood to have felt that Masters (below) — who has been at the Premier League since 2006 and was interim CEO for a year — was a safe pair of hands.
Despite not being picked as Richard Scudamore’s successor initially, his handling of the recruitment problems, the DCMS Select Committee and UEFA’s proposals to reform club competitions as well as issues such as racism in football has earned him the clubs’ support. And with negotiations for the new broadcast deal starting in a matter of months, there was little desire to enter into another external recruitment drive.
Masters was unanimously approved by the clubs, who had a special meeting yesterday, and has taken up the position with immediate effect.
He said: ‘I feel privileged to be given the opportunity to lead the Premier League in what will be one of the most exciting stages of its development. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the clubs and our partners and other stakeholders over the past year. ‘This is one of the most incredible jobs in the world of sport and I now look forward to leading the League in the many opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.’ Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck, who chairs the nominations committee, faced pressure to fill the role after a saga that lasted 18 months and used two major recruitment firms. Last December, Animal Planet president Susanna Dinnage decided not to take up the role just weeks before she was due to start. BBC executive Tim Davie then ruled himself out, and last month David Pemsel resigned following allegations about messages he sent to a former colleague. Of Masters, Buck said: ‘As interim chief executive, he has faced challenges head- on and has proved himself. The clubs believe that this is the right appointment in the long-term interests of the Premier League.’