English Premiership
Top Blackburn official quits
2011-02-04 13:50
London - Blackburn Rovers chairperson John Williams has quit after 14 years, in the latest high-profile departure involving a senior official at the Indian-owned Premiership club.
Williams said in a statement on the club's website Rovers faced a "new dawn" under Indian company Venky's and the time was right for him to quit.
"With our new owners the Venky's Group, I have no doubt this is a new dawn for the club," Williams said.
"There is a new order, a new way of doing things and I believe the time is right for me now to move on."
Williams' departure had been expected, according to British media reports. The Rovers chairman was said to be unhappy with Venky's decision to fire manager Sam Allardyce shortly after their takeover of the club last year.
Williams joined Rovers as chief executive in 1997 before stepping up to executive chairman in 2005.
"I would like to take this opportunity to wish the club, its owners, management, players, employees and supporters all the very best for the future," Williams added in the statement.