Dunfermline chairman Ross McArthur will be standing down from the Pars board at the end of the season, the club has revealed.
The announcement has come with the Championship side currently bottom of the league and without a manager.
Ross has been a member of the board since May 2014 and the announcement comes after new German investors increased their stake in the club back in July.
In a statement, Dunfermline hailed Ross as a "driving force of the Pars United movement" and thanked him for his efforts.
Chiefs admitted they were disappointed by his decision to stand down but understood why, after "abhorrent personal abuse and attacks".
The club said on their website: "Chairman, Ross McArthur, has announced that he will be standing down from the DAFC board at the end of the current season.
"Ross has been a member of the board since May 2014 and was very much the driving force of the Pars United movement for well over a year before that.
"Ross has worked tirelessly, and on a wholly voluntary basis, for the club over the whole of that period. Everyone on the DAFC board is disappointed at Ross’s decision, which he made a few weeks ago, but fully understands why he wishes to stand down following abhorrent personal abuse and attacks to which he was subjected.
They added: "Following the period in administration, under Ross’s guiding hand the club has, amongst other things: rebuilt its previously tarnished reputation within Scottish football; stabilised its finances; improved its accounting, compliance and management systems and controls; achieved promotion to the Championship; made significant improvements to East End Park and more recently navigated its way through the complicated Covid-19 protocols.
"It was Ross who saw the necessity, and drove the process, to attract additional investment into the club, without which the club’s longer-term future could well have been uncertain.
"He has also, and at great personal expense in terms of time and effort, represented the Championship clubs on the SPFL board.
"Even though Ross will continue for the remainder of the season, the board would like now to place on record our sincere and heartfelt thanks to Ross for all that he has done for the club."
The announcement comes at a time when Dunfermline are going through infrastructure developments.
The club said: "This would never have been possible without his tireless efforts to make them happen. These will very much improve the longer-term future prospects of our club, on and off the pitch."
"So, when Ross stands down in May, the club will be in a very much stronger position than the club which came out of administration in December 2013. Everyone associated with the club owes Ross a huge debt of gratitude for that.
"Obviously, we will suitably express our thanks and gratitude at the end of the season when his tenure formally ends."
