West Ham United revamped their boardroom yesterday, with Eggert Magnússon, the chairman and public face of the club’s £85 million takeover 13 months ago, standing down. It will not be long before their management structure also changes, with the appointment of a technical director to work alongside Alan Curbishley, the manager.

Since technical and sporting directors, a “European” trend, have arrived in the Barclays Premier League, their relationships with their managers have not always worked smoothly.

Curbishley will be consulted at every stage and, with a shortlist of candidates drawn up, he will make the final decision in conjunction with the board. Interviews are expected to take place “in the next few weeks”.

With West Ham keen to avoid conflict, Curbishley has been assured that the technical director will have no responsibility for the first team. The new man will oversee development of the academy, the training ground and scouting system.

The departure of Magnússon, a likeable yet impulsive character, is not surprising. Although ostensibly the figurehead at Upton Park since West Ham were bought by an Icelandic consortium in November last year, he held only 5 per cent of the club shares and has maintained a lower profile in recent months. It is believed that his handling of the Carlos Tévez affair, culminating in the Argentina forward’s sale to Manchester United, did not impress fellow members of the board. Neither did the glut of new players signed this year, many of whom were handed lucrative contracts in the region of £70,000 a week.

Björgolfur Gudmundsson, the majority owner, has bought Magnússon’s 5 per cent stake and takes over as chairman. Magnússon, who is understood to have made a 50 per cent profit on an initial outlay of about £4 million, is likely to take up committee work with Uefa and Fifa, the sport’s European and world governing bodies.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time here,” Magnússon said. “The last 12 months have not been without their challenges, but I feel that we have emerged stronger and fitter as a club.”

Gudmundsson, a banker and businessman ranked in the top 800 richest people in the world, is investing a further £30.5 million in the club to strengthen “its financial base”. He said: “We are seeking to build truly solid foundations for the future. Today marks the next step in the development of this great club.”

With Gudmundsson, according to one source, deciding that “he needed to take the top seat”, the parting with Magnússon was said to be “amicable”. Gudmundsson’s tasks include pushing through the projected new £250 million stadium near Upton Park and a new training ground. Mike Lee, the former communications director with the Premier League, Uefa and the British 2012 Olympic bid, has joined the board.