Mark Ashton to leave Bristol City
He will leave his role as Chief Executive after more than five years with the club
Last updated 13th Apr 2021
Mark Ashton will step down as Chief Executive of Bristol City at the end of this season, the club has announced.
He will leave his role on May 31 after more than five years at the club.
In a statement posted on the club's website he says it has been "an incredible role and a privilege" to be the CEO.
Bristol City owner Steve Lansdown said: “I’ve enjoyed working closely with Mark throughout his time here. It’s disappointing to see him go but I understand there comes a time in everyone’s career when they 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 build a strong foundation for the club to move forward from. His work as an EFL Director has also been of benefit 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.”
During his time as Chief Executive City has established itself as a Championship club and built its new High Performance Centre in Failand.
The club has, for some time, now been attempting to push into the Premier League.
Mark Ashton said: “I want to thank the Lansdown family for their support over the last five years. It’s been 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 the integration 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."
He says the club is now in a "great position" to take the next step forward and it feels like the right time for him to move on.
Ashton has regularly come under fire from fans, most recently for the decision to hire Dean Holden as manager, whom many considered too inexperienced to lead the club into the Premier League.
At the time both Rangers boss Steven Gerrard and former Brighton boss Chris Hughton had been linked with the role, but after a recruitment process that lasted more than a month Holden was promoted from within.
Holden was sacked six months later after six straight defeats in all competitions and with it now confirmed Ashton is on the way out, many fans are celebrating on social media.
The club says the board will now consider its options beyond May 31, but the "imminent focus" is on finishing this season positively.