Phil Gartside
| Phil Gartside | |
|---|---|
|
Gartside pictured in 2008 | |
| Born |
Philip Andrew Gartside 1952 (age 62–63) Leigh, England[1] |
| Occupation |
Chairman of Bolton Wanderers FA board member |
| Years active | 1999– |
Philip 'Phil' Gartside (born April 1952) is a businessman and the current chairman of Bolton Wanderers Football Club.[2]
Career
He joined the board of Bolton Wanderers Football Club in April 1989, having been a fan of the club since his days as a pupil at Leigh Grammar School.
He became chairman of Bolton Wanderers in October 1999 at the same time Sam Allardyce was appointed as manager. While Gartside has been Chairman, the club gained promotion to the Premier League and reached the UEFA Cup for the first time in their history. He was unable to hold on to Sam Allardyce, allowing him to resign (only to be appointed manager of Newcastle United only weeks later). Bolton were relegated to the Championship in 2012. As of September 2013 Bolton Wanderers are spending their second season in the Championship.
He has seen a number of high-profile footballers arrive at the club including Nicolas Anelka, Youri Djorkaeff, Jay-Jay Okocha, Fernando Hierro and Iván Campo. He is a prominent football administrator, a Football Association Board Member and an executive director of the new Wembley Stadium.[3]
On 23 April 2009, Gartside proposed a plan to his fellow Premier League chairmen about splitting the Premier League into two divisions of eighteen teams in each and allowing Scottish Premier League clubs Celtic and Rangers to join.[4] UEFA have said they will not veto the proposed move.[5]
References
- ↑ Hayes, Dean. (8 July 2009). Bolton Wanderers Miscellany (1st edition ed.). Brighton: Pitch Publishing. p. 27. ISBN 978-1-905411-21-4.
- ↑ Bwfc.co.uk staff directory
- ↑ Wembleystadium.com
- ↑ Gartside to propose plans
- ↑ Uefa would not veto Old Firm move