The English Premier League (EPL) is, again, looking for a new chief executive after the incoming David Pemsel resigned from the role before taking it up.

Pemsel, the CEO of of Guardian Media Group, was named Premier League CEO in October and was supposed to take the helm of the world's most-watched football league in February 2020.

Allegations about his private life, however, led to Pemsel handing in his resignation at both Guardian Media – where he was working his notice – and the EPL.

In a short statement, the EPL said: "Following media disclosures earlier this week and discussions with David Pemsel, the Premier League has today accepted David’s resignation and he will no longer be joining as chief executive.

"Richard Masters will continue as interim chief executive."

Pemsel's resignation means that the 18-month search for a new EPL chief continues. The search was launched in June 2018, when previous CEO Richard Scudamore revealed his plans to stand down in December 2018.

Pemsel is the second person to be given the job – only for them to then pull out before starting.

In November 2018 the EPL announced that it had appointed Susanna Dinnage as its first female CEO. Within weeks, however, Dinnage told the league that she will not be taking up the position.

Pemsel was seen as a digital specialist and had been credited with expanding the Guardian's global readership and developing it into an international media brand.