Bristol City have confirmed that CEO Mark Ashton will step down at the end of the season.
Ashton has been heavily linked with the vacant CEO position at Ipswich Town and as reported by Bristol Live on Monday, majority share holder Steve Lansdown has begun crucial talks that will shape the future of the club.
After five years at the top of the Robins, Ashton now departs, with the former Watford, Oxford United and Wycombe Wanderers director due to be announced soon as joining the Gamechanger consortium and 'mentor' Mike O'Leary in transforming the League One club's fortunes in Suffolk.
Ashton has proven a divisive figure during his time in BS3 however, and a large portion of fans hold him responsible for a lack of progress on the pitch over the last years, despite the club moving substantially forward off it.
Lansdown said: “I’ve enjoyed working closely with Mark throughout his timehere. It’s disappointing to see him go but I understand there comes a time in everyone’s career whenthey want to take on a new challenge.
“Mark has been an integral part of what we have created over the last few years and he has helped builda strong foundation for the club to move forward from. His work as an EFL Director has also been ofbenefit in raising the club’s profile.
“I’d like to thank Mark for all his work and everyone at Bristol City wish him the best for the future.”
Ashton joined Bristol City in January 2016 after a period of consultancy helping the club.
The former Oxford United chief executive was originally appointed chief operating officer at the club before a promotion the year after in July 2017.
He was responsible for all day-to-day football operations, appointed officially just days after Steve Cotterill was sacked as Bristol City's manager, with the club looking to invest and build behind the scenes.
Mark Ashton commented on his departure saying: “I want to thank the Lansdown family for their support over the last five years. It’sbeen an incredible role and a privilege to be the CEO of Bristol City.“
"I want to give credit to the staff who have worked tirelessly here and who I will miss very much. The club is in excellent hands with such dedicated and passionate people.
“During my time here, it has been a priority to steer the club in a proper and stable way, to see theintegration of the Academy and Women’s team into a one-club structure, and of course to see the completion of the Robins High Performance Centre.
“The club is in a great position to take the next step forward and it feels like now is the right time formyself to move on and embrace a new challenge.”
Bristol City say that the board will now consider its options beyond 31 May.
