Edelman Forced Out of Arsenal After Flat End to Season of Promise

Arsenal yesterday launched their search for an executive to revitalize the club's fortunes on the pitch after Keith Edelman left his position as managing director. The north London club's board has appointed headhunters to find someone with a proven record in brand-building whose CV demonstrates the ability to guide an organization through the minefields of sports politics while carrying the profile of the club in the media.

The remuneration will certainly make it a rewarding job. Edelman, who earned more than £1m a year at Arsenal, received a significant seven-figure payoff after he was told by the club's most powerful shareholder, Danny Fiszman, that the time for him to move on was approaching. Edelman then dictated his own terms for an immediate departure.

Arsenal's statement announced Edelman will remain with the club as a "consultant" for the next 12 months but the director Ken Friar has taken over his duties as his eight-year spell came to an end. "The board has already initiated the search for a new managing director and will update shareholders and stakeholders when appropriate," said the statement.

Edelman said: "I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Arsenal. It has been a very exciting period for the business and I am proud to have contributed to the club's many off-field achievements over the past eight years, not least the Emirates Stadium project. Now that we have completed our second season at Emirates, I believe it is the right time to seek pastures new and embark upon fresh challenges."

With the Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov continuing to build his stake in the club to close to 25%, the development will lead to inevitable noises about future ownership of the 13-times English champions. But there were strong signals from Arsenal that Fiszman is reasserting his own position after a disappointing second season in the Emirates Stadium.

It was a remarkable show of strength by the Switzerland-based diamond trader. Appointed by Fiszman, Edelman became a key ally in the rift that led to David Dein being forced out of the club almost exactly 12 months ago. Any Arsenal fans who hope that it might pave the way for Dein to return to the club, though, will be disappointed since rancor still lingers in the club's wood-paneled boardroom towards their former vice-chairman.

But some of Dein's qualities - not least his extensive contacts - have been missed. The failure to close out a five-point lead in the Premier League might never have happened had they not missed out on key transfer targets in the past 12 months. They slipped away after the burden of coaching and recruitment fell exclusively on the manager, Arsène Wenger.

The France international Frank Ribéry had been due to sign last summer but he headed instead for Bayern Munich. Then Wenger was angered after Alexandre Pato slipped through Arsenal's fingers as he joined Milan from Internacional. There has been yet more uncertainty in the playing staff in 2008, with the club unable to mollify the France international Lassana Diarra, who left for Portsmouth. That has been compounded by the inability to conclude contract negotiations with Mathieu Flamini, who has been a dynamic presence in the Arsenal midfield this season. He is expected to leave on a free transfer, with Alexander Hleb perhaps also leaving, for Internazionale, this summer.

The board yesterday stressed that the septuagenarian Friar's familiarity with football matters will stand them in good stead while they pursue their search for Edelman's successor. "Friar has a wealth of football-based experience and business acumen, [and] having previously occupied the role of managing director [from 1982-2000] he will assume the position of acting managing director."

Edelman would no doubt point out that his legacy to Arsenal is what makes the club such an attractive employer for players and directors alike. He delivered the £260m finance for the stadium construction that has apparently given

Arsenal the means to compete at the top of English and European football for years to come. But with the Highbury Square development that is set to bring £350m of revenues to the club also soon to be completed, Fiszman considered it time to look for someone with different skills.