Trevor Birch appointed new EFL chief executive to succeed David Baldwin
Trevor Birch will replace current chief executive David Baldwin, who will step down on December 31; Birch joins the EFL after leaving his previous role as director of football operations at Tottenham
Thursday 10 December 2020 11:39, UK
Trevor Birch has been appointed as the new chief executive of the English Football League (EFL) and will take up his role on January 1, 2021.
Birch joins the EFL after leaving his previous role as director of football operations at Tottenham to replace current chief executive David Baldwin, who will step down on December 31 after confirming his departure earlier this year.
"I have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of Spurs, however the opportunity to play a role in the EFL at such a crucial time is one I couldn't turn down," said Birch, in a statement realised by the EFL.
"There is a big job to be done dealing with the effect of the pandemic, together with participating in discussions on the future structure of football and I hope I can make a meaningful contribution to that process."
Birch has held a number of prominent roles within football, including chief executive of Chelsea, Everton, Leeds United, Sheffield United and Derby County, as well as chair of Swansea City.
"I am delighted to be able to welcome Trevor Birch to the EFL," added EFL chair Rick Parry.
"Trevor's vast experience has impressed me throughout our discussions in regards to the role, and having been a strong candidate in 2019 before withdrawing from the process, I am delighted that he has opted to take up the position and is able to join the League so promptly. I thank Daniel Levy for his understanding in this respect.
"I have no doubt that his acumen and experience will prove valuable for the EFL as we look to navigate our way out of the unprecedented set of circumstances presented to us by Covid-19 alongside considering the challenges of future reform to the pyramid as we look to develop long-term sustainability in the EFL."
Birch will join the EFL at a challenging time, with many clubs facing financial difficulty amid in the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Last week the EFL and Premier League finally reached agreement over a rescue package worth £250m to ensure no EFL club would go under as a result of the pandemic.
A £50m package of grants and monitored grants was provided to clubs in Leagues One and Two, while the Premier League said it would provide up to £15m to cover interest and arrangement fees on a £200m loan taken out by the EFL which it would then lend on to Championship clubs.
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The announcement of Trevor Birch as EFL chief executive-elect could be seen as the right man at the right time. Birch will join an organisation going through its most difficult and testing time from a financial perspective and also at a time when it has an ongoing review and transition process into how it governed itself.
Birch is seen as a safe pair of hands after a career spent often being parachuted into distressed clubs to provide stability and strategy. His experience as a professional insolvency practitioner will be invaluable as many clubs struggle to cope with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on an already financially difficult environment.
Birch has an impressive CV. After starting out as an apprentice in the Liverpool youth team he went on to have a playing career in the lower echelons of football, but it was his work as a football administrator which later provided his greater success in the game.
Following this appointment as chief executive of Chelsea, he led the £180m sale process to Roman Abramovich before moving on once the deal was complete to take up a similar position at Leeds United, where he again presided over the takeover by a local consortium.
Since then, the 62-year-old has been involved with numerous clubs at different levels, including Everton, Sheffield United, Derby, Portsmouth, Hearts and Bolton, before becoming chairman of Swansea City and most recently director of football at Tottenham.
Birch was a major candidate to replace Shaun Harvey in 2019 but decided to pull out, paving the way for the EFL to appoint Dave Baldwin. However, the latter announced in October he would not be continuing after less than a year in the position.
His appointment will come as a huge relief to chairman Rick Parry, who has been at the forefront of the negotiations and fight to secure a financial bailout for the 72 clubs in the EFL and a whole host of other issues, such as the expulsion of Macclesfield Town, the administration of Wigan Athletic and a restructure of the EFL itself.
Birch's to-do list is plentiful when he takes up his position on January 1 and there won't be much time for him to ease his way into the job.
The EFL has many immediate issues to solve - its own reform, guiding its clubs through the coronavirus pandemic and creating an environment of sustainability for its clubs in the long term - and it will rely heavily on Birch's experience in the months ahead.
