FC Edinburgh chairman Jim Brown to leave role at the end of the season

FC Edinburgh chairman Jim Brown has announced he will step down at the end of the season after six years at the helm.

Brown took over from predecessor Jim Lumsden in May 2017 - 12 months after the club had secured an historic promotion to the SPFL through the pyramid play-offs.

However, with the Meadowbank outfit now on an upwards trajectory, Brown feels it is the right time to relinquish his role to enable him to spend more time with his family.

In a club statement Brown said: "I have informed the board of FC Edinburgh that I will be standing down as chairman at the end of this season. It has been an absolute honour to be chairman of the club over the last six years.

FC Ednburgh chairman Jim Brown will stand down at the end of the season

"There have been many highs and lows over my tenure starting with taking over the club in a very strong position from previous chairman Jim Lumsden.

"We then managed to consolidate in League Two and secured the investment and sponsorship from Tom Tracy which has put the club on a sound commercial footing since. Navigating the club to play-off positions and having the heartache of losing to Dumbarton was a major rollercoaster.

"I also had to get the club through two seasons of Covid and all the extra rules and regulations to get back to playing which was not an easy task. The high of winning the play-off last year and gaining promotion to League One is something I will never forget.

"We have gone way beyond our target of consolidation in League One and find ourselves in a play-off position going into the last quarter of the season.

"Off the field, the last 18 months have been very stressful for many different reasons which have been well documented. All these highs and lows take its toll on your physical and mental health but most importantly on your family life. As the club has grown, the voluntary position of chairman has become 24/7 and brings a lot more challenges than before. I feel it is now time to hand over to someone with a new and fresh outlook, to allow me to recharge my batteries and spend some quality time with my family.

"I would like to thank all the board members, volunteers, management, players and backroom staff past and present who have all contributed massively to get the club to where it is today.

"Last but definitely not least, I would like to thank everyone who has supported and backed us through this period. Everyone at the club appreciates the support from the terraces and the backing you have given the management and players has been outstanding and has also contributed to help the club to grow immensely."

The club will now begin the process of finding Brown's successor.