'This Is Great' - Keith Wyness wowed by new Man City hire

Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness has claimed Txiki Begiristain’s exit at Man City will have nothing to do with their legal troubles.

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the 66-year-old – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs and boardrooms – insisted there has been a “succession plan” at the Etihad Stadium and suggested Hugo Viana’s imminent arrival will be “very positive”.

Man City confirmed on Saturday (12 October) that Begiristain will step away from his role as the club’s director of football at the end of the 2024-25 campaign.

The English champions, who are fighting the Premier League over 115 financial charges, simultaneously confirmed that Sporting CP’s transfer chief Viana will replace the Spaniard at the Etihad Stadium.

Begiristain joined City in 2012 and oversaw the appointment of Pep Guardiola in 2016.

Wyness claimed the exit is not necessarily a “blow” for the Citizens.

Txiki ‘always planned’ to quit Man City in 2025, says Wyness

He told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “I don’t think it’s anything at all to do legally with the situation at Man City.

“I think he’d always planned to go at this juncture in his career.

“He is undoubtedly one of the greats in his position, but I don’t think it’s a blow for City.

“They’ve got Hugo Viana coming in, it’s a six-month handover – and that’s great.

“It would’ve been a blow if he had left immediately and they had to find someone quickly, but there has been a real succession plan in place here.

“City have done it very well.

“Txiki will be a loss, I’m sure – he’s got great knowledge. But having Viana coming in with younger, fresher eyes is very positive.”

In other news, England fans savage “cursed” Phil Foden after what they saw.

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