Bernstein quits as Keegan prepares to spend

Alan Nixon
Thursday 06 March 2003 01:00 GMT
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Manchester City yesterday accepted the resignation of the chairman, David Bernstein, after a boardroom battle over spending plans. His departure is a clear victory for Kevin Keegan, the manager, with whom he had clashed over the recent signing of Robbie Fowler.

Bernstein's exit will mean that Keegan can continue with the recent policy of making big-money purchases. Indeed, it emerged yesterday that he will be given a £20m budget to strengthen his squad.

Bernstein was brought in by Francis Lee to pull together the factions inside Maine Road in the mid-1990s. He was seen as the acceptable face when City were split by anti-Lee sections in the boardroom and in the stands. He took charge in 1998, when the club was in the Second Division with more than 50 players on the books. He has overseen City's comeback, replacing Joe Royle in 2001 with Keegan, who led them into the Premier League this season as First Division champions.

However, Bernstein did not have the share power to keep control when major disagreements emerged this season. In particular, he has found himself at odds with Keegan and the directors John Wardle and Dennis Tueart over transfer policy. They considered that his grasp on the purse-strings was too tight and wanted to carry on spending as City attempted to build a place in the upper reaches of the Premiership.

The tensions came to the surface when Bernstein attempted to renegotiate the terms of Fowler's transfer from Leeds United. However, although his intervention initially appeared to scupper the move, it eventually proved successful as Fowler moved to Maine Road in a cut-price deal.

The end was in sight for Bernstein when City's managing director, Chris Bird, resigned last week. A board meeting was called to discuss a vote of no confidence in Bernstein, who decided to resign.

Bernstein said in a statement yesterday: "It is with regret I have today tendered my resignation as chairman of Manchester City plc. I emphasise that this decision is entirely my own.

"On my appointment I emphasised three factors required to fulfil the chairman's role effectively – unity, stability and professionalism. Until recently my board, major shareholders and key employees have successfully worked together to achieve these.

"Over the last few months there has been a divergence of views on fundamental strategic issues particularly concerning finance and management structure. I believe this has inhibited my ability to direct the club in the way I would wish."

The millions set aside by Bernstein, in case of relegation, can now be dipped into in time for the club's move to the City of Manchester Stadium. Keegan wants a new goalkeeper, right-back, centre-half and yet another striker. A goalkeeper is the top target, with West Ham's David James a possibility. Barcelona's Michael Reiziger and Frank de Boer are also on the wanted list. The City manager also has to sort out the futures of Marc-Vivien Foé and Djamel Belmadi, both at City on loan, from Lyon and Marseilles respectively.

Intriguingly, one other person who could be affected by Bernstein's exit is Lee, the former chairman, who became a figure of hate among supporters when he put a stop to spending,. Lee still has a big shareholding and is close to Keegan from their playing and horse-racing days. A return for him in some form cannot be discounted.

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