Chris Mort
Encyclopedia
Christopher "Chris" Mort is an English
lawyer
and former chairman of Newcastle United Football Club
.
, where he is co-head of the leisure sector group and oversees relationships with companies in the gaming, holidays, hotels, pubs and sports sectors.
Mort worked for Mike Ashley
on his takeover of Newcastle United
, and took over as chairman of the club on 24 July 2007, representing Ashley.
Mort and Ashley sacked manager Sam Allardyce
in January 2008. Kevin Keegan
was appointed as his successor.
In May 2008, it was widely speculated that Mort would leave the club, returning to his job at the law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in London. In his time as chairman of the club, Mort was very popular with the fans of the club, taking time out to speak with fans and take their opinions on certain aspects of how the club was run. He also set up the Newcastle United Foundation to lead on the club's charitable work in the north-east and rebuilt the club's relationship with the Newcastle community and local media.
He left the club in June 2008 and was replaced by Derek Llambias
in the role of managing director.
Many fans felt that because of Mort's departure, relations between the board and manager Kevin Keegan
soured and resulted in Keegan's resignation. Many feel that Mort would have handled this situation much better than his replacement Derek Llambias
.
Supporters have encouraged Mort to return to the club, and he was even linked by the media with a return to Newcastle after being spotted at several games. However he responded stating that he was just a supporter of the team nowadays.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and former chairman of Newcastle United Football Club
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
.
Biography
Mort is a lawyer for Freshfields Bruckhaus DeringerFreshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a global law firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom and a member of the 'Magic Circle' of leading English law firms. It is the second-largest law firm in the world measured by revenues. In 2010-11 it achieved total revenues of £1.14 billion and profits...
, where he is co-head of the leisure sector group and oversees relationships with companies in the gaming, holidays, hotels, pubs and sports sectors.
Mort worked for Mike Ashley
Mike Ashley (businessman)
Michael James Wallace "Mike" Ashley is an English millionaire retail entrepreneur in the sporting goods market...
on his takeover of Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
, and took over as chairman of the club on 24 July 2007, representing Ashley.
Mort and Ashley sacked manager Sam Allardyce
Sam Allardyce
Samuel "Sam" Allardyce , nicknamed "Big Sam", is an English football manager and former professional player. In June 2011 he was appointed as manager of West Ham United....
in January 2008. Kevin Keegan
Kevin Keegan
Joseph Kevin Keegan, OBE is a former international footballer and former manager of the England national football team and several English clubs, most notably Newcastle United....
was appointed as his successor.
In May 2008, it was widely speculated that Mort would leave the club, returning to his job at the law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in London. In his time as chairman of the club, Mort was very popular with the fans of the club, taking time out to speak with fans and take their opinions on certain aspects of how the club was run. He also set up the Newcastle United Foundation to lead on the club's charitable work in the north-east and rebuilt the club's relationship with the Newcastle community and local media.
He left the club in June 2008 and was replaced by Derek Llambias
Derek Llambias
Derek Llambias is an English businessman and long-term associate and friend of both Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley and Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew.He is currently managing director of Newcastle United...
in the role of managing director.
Many fans felt that because of Mort's departure, relations between the board and manager Kevin Keegan
Kevin Keegan
Joseph Kevin Keegan, OBE is a former international footballer and former manager of the England national football team and several English clubs, most notably Newcastle United....
soured and resulted in Keegan's resignation. Many feel that Mort would have handled this situation much better than his replacement Derek Llambias
Derek Llambias
Derek Llambias is an English businessman and long-term associate and friend of both Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley and Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew.He is currently managing director of Newcastle United...
.
Supporters have encouraged Mort to return to the club, and he was even linked by the media with a return to Newcastle after being spotted at several games. However he responded stating that he was just a supporter of the team nowadays.