Top two Premier League jobs to be held by women

It was announced earlier this week that TV executive Susanna Dinnage will become the league's chief executive early in 2019, while Claudia Arney will take over as interim chairman

Susanna Dinnage is the first women to hold the position of chief executive (Getty)

The Premier League's two top posts will both be held by women when Richard Scuadmore steps down at the end of the year.

It was announced earlier this week that TV executive Susanna Dinnage will become the league's chief executive early in 2019, while Claudia Arney will take over as interim chairman.

Scudamore has held the position of executive chairman since 2014 having previously been chief executive, and the role is again being split.

Arney was appointed to the board as a non-executive director when Scudamore became executive chairman and was part of the committee that selected Dinnage.

Arney has held a wide range of positions across business, including as director of the Enterprise and Growth Unit at HM Treasury, while she is also a non-executive director of Derwent London, Halfords Group, Kingfisher and Aviva.

The search for a permanent non-executive chairman has begun, with no indication as yet when an appointment will be made.

The appointment of Dinnage, a leading executive at broadcasting giant Discovery, has been overshadowed by the row over Scudamore's £5m farewell payment.

News of the golden handshake, which will be paid over three years, was met with outrage in some areas of football, particularly among fans' groups, but the Premier League confirmed on Thursday it will go ahead.

PA