Stefan Borson: Tim Lewis made ‘surprising’ decision after Arsenal exit confirmed
Arsenal have made multiple changes behind the scenes after Tim Lewis’s exit has been confirmed at the Emirates Stadium.
It was announced on 19 September Lewis would be leaving Arsenal in a revamp of the club’s boardroom.
Lewis, whose latest role at the Emirates was as executive vice-chair, has advised owner Stan Kroenke on his investments in the Gunners since 2007.
Former Man City financial adviser Stefan Borson exclusively told Football Insider there is likely to be some “acrimony” between the 62-year-old and Arsenal following his exit.
Meanwhile, Arsenal confirmed Richard Garlick has been promoted from managing director to chief executive with immediate effect.
Arsenal made interesting decision after sudden exit
Kroenke Sports & Entertainment’s (KSE) Kelly Blaha and Otto Maly have joined Arsenal’s board as non-executive directors alongside Dave Steiner, a long-term advisor to KSE.
However, Arsenal’s decision to appoint Ben Winston as a non-executive director hasn’t gone down too well with some of the club’s fans, with many questioning the producer and director’s credentials.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider about Lewis’s exit, Borson said: “I think it's always interesting when executives leave suddenly and overnight because that's not the normal way.
“The normal way, especially where people are perceived to have been very instrumental in the development of the club over the last few years and this applies to Levy and also to Lewis, but the usual thing is that you would have an orderly way out.
“You would announce say now that that individual will leave at the end of the season or after Christmas, or they would become a non-executive director.”
As part of the boardroom reshuffle, co-chair Josh Kroenke is expected to play a more prominent role at the Emirates.
Tim Lewis rejected new Arsenal role
Lewis’s departure at Arsenal came just a couple of weeks after Daniel Levy left Tottenham, having spent 24 years as Spurs' executive chairman.
Borson said: “Both Levy and Lewis went with immediate effect and neither of them took a non-executive role.
“From what I can gather, I think Lewis was offered one but didn't want it, which was a bit surprising.
“I mean, I think at his age you would have thought that it would be ideal to go non-exec.
“But for whatever reason, they've obviously wanted him out of the way, and I think there's probably some acrimony there, given that he’s left overnight.”
Mikel Arteta’s side sit second in the Premier League table after closing the gap on Liverpool to two points following their victory over Newcastle United on Sunday (28 September).
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