York City director Mike Brown has resigned from his position in the Bootham Crescent boardroom.

Business development director Brown has stepped down due to workload pressures.

Brown played a key role in the Supporters Trust's takeover of the football club and has been a director since March 2003.

He has also been a board member of the Supporters' Trust during that period.

Brown's initial role in the boardroom was marketing and IT director, but his title recently changed as he became responsible for commercial aspects at the club.

About his decision to resign after 16 months as a director, Brown said: "It is with great personal sadness that due to work and family commitments I can no longer continue in my role as a director of the club.

"It has been a great honour to have helped save and strengthen such an important community asset and I would like to wish the board of directors, staff and players every success for the forthcoming season."

Commenting on Brown's departure, managing director Jason McGill said: "The board of directors would like to thank Mike Brown for all his hard work over the past two and a half years. Not only did he play an important role in saving the Club, but he has also spent much time and effort assisting York City in his role as a football club director.

"Being a director of York City is a very time consuming role. When you have family and your own career as well, it is often a difficult juggling act. We all sympathise with the pressures Mike has had to endure and wish him well for the future."

Minstermen officials confirmed that Brown's resignation as a football club director has already been discussed with the board of the Supporters' Trust.

The football club board will continue with five directors and there are no plans at present to recruit a replacement to fulfil Brown's role.

Updated: 10:43 Wednesday, July 21, 2004