Rod Petrie temporarily steps down as SFA president as former Hibs chairman recovers from illness

Vice-president Mike Mulraney to take over on interim basis
SFA president Rod Petrie has stepped down from the role temporarily due to ill-health. Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group / SFASFA president Rod Petrie has stepped down from the role temporarily due to ill-health. Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group / SFA
SFA president Rod Petrie has stepped down from the role temporarily due to ill-health. Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group / SFA

Former Hibs chairman Rod Petrie has temporarily stepped down from his role as Scottish FA president with immediate affect on health grounds, the governing body has confirmed.

On the advice of medical staff, the 64-year-old has stepped away from his duties for an undetermined period with Alloa chairman Mike Mulraney, the current vice-president, taking over as president in the interim.

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Petrie served as Hibs chairman and chief executive for over 20 years until leaving the board in July last year after American businessman Ron Gordon acquired majority ownership of the club.

He has served on the SFA committees since 1998 and previously held the position of vice-president before becoming SFA president in an unopposed election last year.

Acting president Mulraney stated: “On behalf of the Scottish FA board, our people and Scottish football as a whole, I would like to wish Rod a speedy recovery.

“Rod has been a pillar of strength to the association throughout this COVID-19 pandemic and to me as Vice-President. It is now our turn to support Rod through his recovery.

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“We look forward to seeing him back to full health soon but in the meantime I will work closely with our Chief Executive, Ian Maxwell, to continue to steer Scottish football through the uncertainty caused by COVID-19.

“I would ask that everyone respects Rod’s request for privacy during his recovery period.”

Hibs have also reacted to the news, tweeting: “We'd like to pass on our best wishes to our former chairman, Rod Petrie, as he takes a break from his position at the Scottish FA on health grounds.”