Brown McMaster resigns as SFL president due to health problems

Published on Tuesday 24 November 2009 12:06

HEALTH problems were behind Brown McMaster's resignation as Scottish Football League president today, chief executive David Longmuir has confirmed.

• Brown McMaster

McMaster has stepped down after two and a half years in the role to undergo treatment for an unspecified condition and will be replaced by current vice-president Jim Ballantyne.

Longmuir told Press Association Sport: "Brown has got some health challenges to face. He's been struggling along for the last few months.

"The amount of time he has to spend facing those challenges means he's not going to be able to continue with all his roles in football.

"He needs to spend his time getting through these next couple of months."

Stenhousemuir director McMaster is still being investigated by the Scottish Football Association over allegations he had a simultaneous interest in two clubs, something which is against SFA rules.

But Longmuir insisted that had nothing to do with today's announcement.

"The two are completely unconnected," he said.

Refusing to confirm the nature of McMaster's condition, Longmuir added: "The prognosis is not disastrous but the treatment is quite intensive over the next couple of months."

McMaster said in a statement: "I have thoroughly enjoyed my two and a half years as president of the Scottish Football League and hope that during my term of office I have helped in some small way to move the organisation forward.

"I am sorry to be standing down at this time but I have always been someone who fully commits to anything I am involved in and my personal circumstances make it impossible for me to do so at the Scottish Football League at present."

Ballantyne said: "I am saddened that Brown has decided to stand down but I fully understand his reasons for so doing and I wish him well in the future.

"Brown stood up to the plate at a time of great anxiety in Scottish football when change was needed and it is extremely relevant to compare the state of the SFL now and the SFL then, and that is no disrespect to previous participators.

"The amount of man hours he has devoted to the SFL in his term of office is staggering, despite most of it going on behind the scenes unnoticed.

"He will leave the SFL in great shape in difficult economic times and I will do my utmost to carry on his good work."

Longmuir added: "Brown has carried the office of president of the Scottish Football League with distinction and skill.

"I believe the organisation is now stronger, more together and more attractive to sponsors than before and I attribute much of that progress to the influence of Brown.

"I wish him sincere good wishes for the future."