Birch was at Chelsea between 2002 and 2003 during a crucial chapter in our history. With our club’s finances in a precarious position, Birch famously delivered a speech to the players before the final-day meeting with Liverpool in 2003 when Champions League qualification, and the riches that came with it, was on the line.

We won that game, and shortly afterwards Birch helped oversee the sale of the club to Roman Abramovich before heading on to pastures new.

He has since worked at a number of other clubs, including Leeds, Everton, Swansea and, most recently, Tottenham. He will take over as the new chief executive of the Football League on 1 January 2021.