Garlick leaves Premier League with immediate effect after ESL saga

RICHARD GARLICK has left his role as Director of Football at the Premier League with immediate effect following the failed attempt to create a European Super League last week.

In January, it was announced that Garlick was to leave the Premier League after three years to become Director of Football Operations at Arsenal, replacing Huss Fahmy.

The plan was that he would leave the Premier League at the end of this season, but controversy over the ESL - of which Arsenal were to have been one of 12 founder members - has meant him leaving prematurely.

The Premier League were among the organisations to condemn the ESL plans and, as reported originally by The Athletic, Chief Executive Richard Masters decided it was best for Garlick to step down from his role with immediate effect.

A source told TGG that there had been an "amicable" meeting between Masters and Garlick at the end of last week and that he was "well liked and respected" by colleagues at the Premier League. The search for his successor is now underway.

Garlick was appointed Director of Football at the Premier League in April 2018 after eight years at West Brom, predominantly as Director of Football Administration.

At Arsenal he will be responsible for "football operations in the first team and Academy, all player contract management and relationships with football's governing bodies" and will still take up the role at the end of the season, despite his early Premier League exit.