CHESTER’S “Mr Racing” has not stood for re-election to the board of the Race Company following a 10-year-stint.
David Pickering didn’t stand for the post of non-executive director following what chief executive Richard Thomas described as “a mutual decision”.
Both men insist there has been no fall-out although Mr Pickering admits he was unwise to publicly reveal Mr Thomas had been on fact-finding trip to see a new theatre in Shrewsbury after he had been asked to keep quiet.
Mr Pickering, who said he was upset to be leaving to “a certain extent” after two five year terms, said: “I am still very much involved. Chester is too small to fall out with people!
“Richard is very much the driving force but I like to think that my contacts in Chester have been useful as far as making things happen.
“As a non-executive director I don’t take any credit but I have been part of a successful team – the share price had gone up from £5,000 to £35,000. Things may be getting a bit tougher now.”
Mr Pickering, who is still a shareholder and a founding member of Chester Racing Club, would like to devote more of his efforts to helping Chester City Football Club emulate the success achieved by Chester Race Company through his role with city centre management.
Chief executive Mr Thomas said: “He has been a very, very valuable director of ours. It’s important for me to have good non-executive directors. I have to lean on my directors to give me support and they do come up with fresh ideas.”
But Mr Thomas added that it was important to “keep renewing non-executive directors”.
“We don’t want the business to become stale,” added Mr Thomas, who said Mr Pickering’s replacement had not been appointed.
