November 16, (THEWILL) – Gary Hoffman, the chairman of the Premier League, has resigned, THEWILL has learnt.
Last month, it was revealed that certain Premier League clubs wanted Hoffman to quit the league. Hoffman has now resigned and is in the process of completing his departure.
Hoffman was appointed in April 2020, but over a tumultuous 18 months, he has struggled to gain favour. Following the sanctioning of the Saudi Arabia-backed takeover of Newcastle, there was rising unhappiness inside the division with the Premier League’s management.
It was clear that the dissatisfaction did not stem exclusively from the Newcastle takeover, but rather from a various factors, though recent events on Tyneside brought the grievances to a head.
Meanwhile, later this week, the Premier League is poised to unveil a lucrative new television agreement with the United States.
THEWILL recalls that only a year into Hoffman’s presidency, the proposed European Super League (ESL) thrust him into the spotlight, and on issues like that and the Newcastle takeover, a lot of executives were convinced the investment banker had lost the essential clout from a governance, political, and communication standpoint to continue in position.
Even though the league maintains it was committed by confidentiality, communication from the organisation’s hierarchy to its shareholders remained a major concern surrounding the Newcastle deal.
Despite the UK government’s refusal to publish what it told the league about the buyout because it could “harm” relations with Saudi Arabia, Hoffman allegedly revealed it in last week’s meeting, forcing Chief Executive Richard Masters to intervene.
Hoffman’s loss of trust was reportedly expressed in separate calls and gatherings involving only the clubs, rather than during meetings attended by Premier League employees.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
