Bristol Rovers owner Wael Al-Qadi has reiterated his backing for manager Joey Barton, despite the club's relegation, but uncertainty remains over director of football Tommy Widdrington's role.
Al-Qadi spoke publicly for the first time on Tuesday after Rovers' relegation to League Two was confirmed with defeat at Portsmouth at the weekend.
The Gas are bottom of the table with two games to play, as a season that began with optimism as resulted in dramatic failure.
But the owner has insisted Barton retains the club's support, confirming Bristol Live's exclusive story from April 22.
"He’s on a different level, he knows football inside out, he’s a very bright guy and he’s a winner," Al-Qadi told BBC Points West today.
"I have no doubts he will lead us back."
The owner insists Barton will be given the required backing to overhaul Rovers' dysfunctional squad this summer.
"We’ve supported all the managers and with Joey it will be no different," he said. "We will do all that it takes and requires to assemble a squad that will get us back into League One."
However, there are increasing questions over Widdrington's place in the puzzle. Barton has made no secret of the fact he wants to command Rovers' recruitment operation, which has been the former Southampton midfielder's remit in recent seasons.
But he has faced increasing scrutiny from supporters as Rovers' season has crashed and burned, and when asked whether Widdrington will take charge of signing players this summer Al-Qadi said the club will review its structure.
"We still have to look at ourselves," he continued. "Being relegated, there’s a lot of internal work where we have to take a good look at ourselves and rearrange ourselves in a way so the club comes out stronger than we did last season."
Rovers are on their third manager of a miserable season, and their player recruitment has left a lot to be desired. Al-Qadi admits it must improve.
"I really don’t like to put blame on anybody," he said. "I did take full responsibility for our plight, but the appointment of managers and recruitment are two big areas we really have to rectify and not make these mistakes again in the future."
One particular transfer saga that cost Rovers badly this season was the Jayden Stockley episode, where Paul Tisdale committed wholeheartedly to signing the Preston North End striker, who he worked with at Exeter City.
Stockley opted for a loan move to Charlton Athletic instead, and the Gas left the January transfer window without signing a striker – widely recognised as the squad's biggest need.
Al-Qadi was asked why that situation occurred.
He replied: "There have been managers in the past that put their faith and trust completely in players they have known for a while, and I think that’s where it went wrong, because we were relying on that trust and faith in a certain player to come through, and in the end it didn’t.
"We were assured this was going to materialise and in the dying seconds it didn’t."
Al-Qadi confirmed the club's aim is for an immediate return to League One, promising supporters he and his staff will "work tirelessly to rebuild and create a team that will actually do that for us".
