Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay says Peter Kenyon will still have a big say on the club's future.

Gourlay has succeeded Kenyon for the top job at Stamford Bridge, with the latter now representing Chelsea in Europe.

"Peter will continue on the board and he is very influential in world football. He holds a number of key posts in Uefa and I think that's important for the club, to maintain that level of exposure and have a say at that level. How long that goes on for, who knows, but at this stage it is very important," Gourlay told chelseafc.com.

"Peter is a very well-known figure in the game. While I have been around the game for a long time and have experience, I am not a face that is particularly well-known as far as the outside world is concerned. Obviously that will change and has changed a bit already."