SFA on the hunt for new compliance officer as Clare Whyte to quit in 2021

Clare Whyte will quit her role as Scottish FA compliance officer in the new year, the governing body has announced.

Clare Whyte will leave her role as compliance officer in the new year. Picture: SNS

Whyte has been in the position for two years and three months, having taken over from Tony McGlennan in August 2018, and leaves to take up a “new opportunity”.

She will remain for the time being to “ensure a smooth handover” while the SFA searches for her replacement.

A statement from the SFA read: “The Scottish FA can confirm that Clare Whyte will leave her role as Compliance Officer to take up a new opportunity.

“Clare will remain in post until early in the New Year to ensure a smooth handover period with her successor.”

The compliance officer role involves the handing down of sanctions to players, managers and clubs who are adjudged to have infringed upon the rules of the game.

Whyte, like her successors, often found herself the target of ire from managers and supporters unhappy with her decisions.

SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell praised Whyte’s “professionalism and resilience” for handling her duties across her time at Hampden Park.

He said: “I would like to thank Clare for her commitment to the role over the past two years with the Scottish FA.

“In what is a high-pressure position in a relentless environment, she has shown professionalism and resilience.

“We will begin the process of recruiting a replacement in early course.”

In February last year, Maxwell publicly defended Whyte against “grossly unfair” criticism after the compliance officer came in for scrutiny following a number of high-profile incidents.

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