As the latest batch of gongs are conferred on the great and the good, former rector of the London Institute John McKenzie, who recently stood down as chairman of Leeds United Football Club, received a more dubious accolade. In its Christmas awards, satirical football website The Fiver highlighted Professor McKenzie's receipt of a £200,000 advance for consultancy work at the club with a prize for "snatching much-needed food from the mouths of struggling Leeds United as they teetered on the brink of administration".
Professor McKenzie told THES readers last April that he was using the same skills at Leeds United as he had in higher education.