Chelsea’s majority shareholder Clearlake Capital have poached a key executive from Fenway Sports Group (FSG), who own Premier League rivals Liverpool.
David Beeston has been appointed managing director of Clearlake’s O.P.S. group, having left his role as co-head of FSG’s sports marketing firm Fenway Sports Management. Beeston also worked closely with FSG’s NHL and MLB teams, Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Red Sox.
The American lawyer was not heavily involved with Liverpool during his time at FSG, but City A.M. are reporting that his new role with Clearlake will mean ‘a significant amount of his time will be devoted to Chelsea ‘.
“We’re proud of the multifaceted team we’ve built, who possess the expertise needed to develop and deploy flexible and creative investment solutions, while managing risk, in today’s dynamic market,” Clearlake co-founder Behdad Eghbali said when Beeston was announced as one of several new hires.
“We welcome our new team members and congratulate our long-tenured senior executives on their well-deserved promotions.” Eghbali is understood to be the most influential Clearlake figure at Stamford Bridge and he now appears to be at loggerheads with fellow Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly.
Clearlake have a 61.5 percent stake in the club, while Boehly owns a minority 12.8 percent stake and the pair’s relationship is understood to have broken down beyond repair. Both Clearlake and Boehly are considering their options over the future of Chelsea.
Both sides are said to be looking to buy the other out, but it remains to be seen whether a resolution can be reached. “I don’t know if something is going to happen, to be honest,” Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca said when asked about the situation earlier this month.
“I don’t have an idea. The only thing I can say is that in terms of the football side, we are in the right direction and the team is improving. I think the players are professional enough to understand these kinds of things, they are things we cannot control.
“The main focus for me is exactly the main focus for the players, on the pitch, we need to do the things to improve and this is the main target for them, for me and for all of us.”
