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Debbie Jevans will leave the EFL at the end of the season after nine years on the board as Wimbledon’s first female president prepares to take office at SW19 this summer.
- Jevans became an independent non-executive director of the Football League in 2014
- She was then named interim president during a difficult period five years later.
- Now the 62-year-old is set to make history as the first female Wimbledon president.
Wimbledon’s new chairwoman, Debbie Jevans, will leave the EFL Board at the end of the season following her appointment by the All England Club.
The former Grand Slam singles player made history by becoming Wimbledon’s first women’s chair last month and will take over at SW19 after this summer’s Championships after nine years in the EFL.
Jevans became the Football League’s independent non-executive director in 2014 and was given the unenviable task of leading the lower divisions through one of the most difficult periods in its history after being appointed interim chairman in 2019.
The 62-year-old was in charge of the EFL Board when they made the decision to expel Bury from League One and deny them admission to League Two ahead of the 2019/2020 season after they failed to provide proof of funding. that they could survive the campaign.
Jevans became the focus of criticism from disgruntled Bury fans, but insisted the EFL was not embarrassed by his decision after working for several months on a rescue package for the club which ultimately fell through.
New Wimbledon Chairwoman Debbie Jevans to leave the EFL Board at the end of the season
She also faces a potentially rocky start to her Wimbledon reign, as the All England Club must decide whether to uphold the controversial ban on Russian players this year, a decision that led to British tennis being fined almost $1.5 million. of pounds sterling by the ATP and WTA.
The EFL is expected to announce Jevans’ departure in the coming days and confirm their plans to secure a replacement. Former Jockey Club chief executive Simon Bazelgette left the board last year, so the EFL is likely to appoint two new independent directors.