David Alan Bernstein CBE (born 22 May 1943) is a British business executive who is the chairman of the British Red Cross, member of the advisory board at Cogress Ltd and was the former chairman of French Connection.
A Chartered Accountant by profession, Bernstein has also been involved in the footballing world and was the chairman of Manchester City F.C. from 1998 to 2003, a period of revival and stability in the club's 130-year history and is generally held in high regard by Manchester City supporters for helping to pull the club out of its nadir.
Bernstein is also President of Level Playing Field and Chair of the Centre for Access to Football in Europe. He has been chairman of Wembley Stadium Limited since July 2008, during which he has renegotiated the £341m loan that has ensured the stadium's financial future would be more manageable.
Bernstein was the FA chairman from January 2011 until his 70th birthday in May 2013, having been selected as Lord Triesman's replacement by the FA Council in December 2010. He said that his main priorities as chairman were reducing dissent and increasing respect in English football, establishing closer links with FIFA to gain greater influence in international football and enforcing a fairer playing field financially.
In December 2019, Bernstein stepped down as Executive Chairman of Ted Baker.
Manchester City
Bernstein began supporting Manchester City in 1954 and watched the 1956 FA Cup Final between City and Birmingham City, despite it coinciding with the day of his Bar Mitzvah. He joined Manchester City in 1994 as a board member and replaced outgoing chairman Francis Lee as chairman in 1998.
He inherited the role at a time when the once famous team of the 1960 and 70s was an ailing side plummeting into the depths of the Football League. The club reached their nadir when they were relegated to the old Football League Division Two in 1998, which was then the third tier of English football – the only time in Manchester City's 130-year history they have been in the third tier.
His spell as Manchester City chairman saw five seasons of Manchester City yo-yoing between divisions. The club returned to the Division One via the play-offs in a tense penalty shootout with Gillingham. The first season after being promoted, the club finished 2nd in Division One and were promoted to the Premiership. However they went on to finish 18th and were subsequently relegated. Bernstein brought Kevin Keegan in as manager with the task to get City into the top flight and provide the stability to remain there. The club gained promotion in Keegan's first season in charge finishing 1st in Division One, winning by 10 clear points and scoring 101 league goals (more than 2 a game) for the first time since 1957–58 season.
Bernstein departed Manchester City and was succeeded as chairman by John Wardle. The exact reason for his departure was believed to be down to "excessive spending", something Bernstein warned Manchester City to be wary of after the financial gambles Peter Swales often took to give City impetus to challenge for trophies.
Successes
However his tenure at Manchester City is fondly looked on by Manchester City supporters, who credit Bernstein for preventing City getting stuck in the lower divisions and providing the necessary back-room clout to give the club stability, while Bernstein upon leaving City thanked his fellow City fans for their support: "I would like to thank our wonderful fans for their backing. They have been fantastic in their support, which has never wavered even during the most difficult times. I have been touched by their kindness and enthusiasm. I have supported Manchester City since I was a boy and I am desperate for us to succeed."