Su new League leader

yesterday’s meeting to confirm the decision to appoint Dinnage, who is currently the global president of Discovery TV’s Animal Planet channel.

She will take over the post after she is released by Discovery early in the new year.

Undoubtedly, Scudamore has been a highly-successful leader of the richest league in the world, and his incentivised £900,000-ayear salary has been topped up to beyond £2.5m a year with bonuses.

His surprise decision in June to announce his retirement from the post sparked a lengthy search for his replacement.

Dinnage narrowly missed out on becoming chief executive of Channel 4 last year and has worked in television for more than 20 years.

“I am excited at the prospect of taking on this fantastic role,” she said yesterday.

“The Premier League means so much to so many people.

“It represents the pinnacle of professional sport and the opportunity to lead such a dynamic and inspirational organisation is a great privilege.

“With the support of clubs and the team, I look forward to extending the success of the League for many years to come.”

The 51-year-old Fulham fan has experience in the field of the Premier League TV rights issue, having briefly threatened Sky’s stranglehold following Discovery’s takeover of Eurosport.

Her first task will be to see off the threat of a European Super League following revelations of secret talks in German magazine Der Spiegel involving some of the Premier League’s top clubs.

Being able to rein in the ‘Big Six’ has been one of Scudamore’s most lauded achievements.