New York Jets owner Woody 

Johnson is US ambassador

 to Britain

Woody Johnson, 70, was named as President Trump's pick to be his

 ambassador to Britain, ending months of speculation. 

Donald Trump has announced he will nominate tycoon 

Woody Johnson, owner of the New York Jets American 

football team, as the US ambassador to Britain.

The president had tipped Mr Johnson for the job when he said

 the businessman was 'going to St James's' during a luncheon 

in January.

At the time the appointment was welcomed as a 'stylish' choice as

 the US's top diplomat in London, also known as ambassador to

 the Court of St James's.

Mr Johnson, 70, helped raise money for Mr Trump's presidential

 campaign and donated funds to help pay for his inauguration.

The billionaire businessman and philanthropist from the 

Johnson & Johnson family is chairman and chief executive of the Jets. 

He will hand over control of the Jets to his brother, 

Christopher, should the nomination be approved.

The appointment was welcomed by Prime Minister Theresa May, 

who said it showed Mr Trump's close ties to Britain. 

'We are looking forward to working with the new U.S. ambassador 

once that is confirmed,' the spokesman said. 

'His close personal relationship with the president shows the

 commitment of the administration to the special relationship 

between our two countries.' 

Jets president, Neil Glat, said: 'On behalf of the entire organisation, 

we would be extremely proud to see Woody nominated and 

confirmed as US ambassador.  We could not be more excited for 

him and his family.'

Christopher Johnson added: 'If Woody is nominated and confirmed,

 I would be honored to oversee the organization.'

The pair are long-term friends. They are pictured above with their

 wives at Johnson's 'Wig Out' 60th birthday party in 2007

The New York Jets suggested in new about the appointment

 in advance with this post on Twitter

The nomination has to be approved by the US Senate, which

 will also decide on Mr Trump's choice of ambassador to Belgium,

 Jamie McCourt.

Ms McCourt was co-owner and chief executive of the Los Angeles

 Dodgers baseball team until 2009.

Johnson comes from American enterprise royalty, 

being the heir to a vast Johnson & Johnson fortune.

 His great-grandfather founded the company in 1887, 

and it became a health care behemoth.

Incoming presidents often reward major supporters, 

donors or fundraisers with plum ambassador posts. 

But the Trump administration is behind on filling key jobs.

Johnson was the rumored selection for months. He was a 

member of Trump's fundraising team 

Only nine of the US State Department's 121 political appointee

 positions have been taken by confirmed nominees. 

Out of the 70 vacant ambassadorial roles, only a handful 

have been filled. 

Johnson acquired the Jets in 2000. The team has had a

 winning season just once in the past six years, and their 

2016 record ended with five wins and 11 losses.