Manchester United he de-listed it from the stock exchange and made it a private company once again. Watkins remained on the club's football board and was the club's solicitor. Watkins oversaw numerous high-profile football transfers both at home in the United Kingdom and abroad. He has also represented clubs and players before FIFA, UEFA, the Football Association, the Premier League and the Football League disciplinary bodies. Also he represented players and clubs at the Court of Arbitration for Sport and international and league compensation tribunals. He worked with the South Africa and Nigerian Premier leagues in respect of broadcasting and regulatory matters as well as the Egyptian Sports Council and UAE footballing authorities. Watkins regularly spoke on football and sports law issues within the United Kingdom and internationally. He represented both the Football Association and the Premier League at conferences in Egypt, France, Qatar, Spain, United Arab Emirates, Trinidad and Tobago and Japan. In 2012 Watkins was named interim Rugby Football League Chairman after the departure of Richard Lewis. On 29 June 2012, Watkins stepped down from the board of Manchester United Football Club Ltd after 28 years with the club. On 30 May 2013, it was announced that Watkins would become chairman of Championship football club Barnsley. On 31 August 2017, Barnsley announced that Watkins was leaving the club's board of directors and his role as chairman. Charitable support Watkins was involved with several causes. Previous roles have included Chairman of the New Children's Hospital Appeal. With his leadership the appeal successfully raised £20 million to provide beds for parents on wards and additional and up-to-date equipment at the new state-of-the-art Royal Manchester Children's Hospital. References External links Brabners LLP Solicitors 1941 births 2021 deaths Alumni of University College London Manchester United F.C. directors and chairmen English solicitors Sports law Association football law Place of birth missing British rugby league administrators Deaths from prostate cancer