The man who guided a troubled Highland League football club through its darkest hour has quit.
Director of football and acting chairman Rab Mulheron oversaw Rothes FC during a turbulent period of upheaval after the exposure of unpaid tax bill of £33,000 forced Robbie Thomson to resign.
But in a shock twist, it emerged last night that Mr Mulheron has also walked away, after being offered the vice-chairman position of club.
A public meeting was held last night, just days after Rothes millionaire Richard Forsyth stepped in and saved the club by paying a £20,000 down-payment to the HMRC.
An emergency general meeting will be held on Monday when a new committee is elected, and last night Mr Forsyth vowed to continue his support if “sensible and balanced” decisions were made.
He revealed the Speysiders were “literally five minutes” from a court appearance and inevitable insolvency when he made the call to step in.
Mr Forsyth, who owns fabrication group Forsyths, said: “I’m not going to throw money into a black hole, but if I see positives and you elect a sensible and balanced committee to run this club, then I am willing to support it.
“Next Monday will be the key to getting the right folk in.”
Mr Forsyth had offered Mr Mulheron the vice-chairman role, and told those at last night’s meeting he was disappointed he had turned it down.
He said: “I’m really disappointed he has decided to go.
“He has obviously gone and thought about it and he has made that decision.
“I liked the guy. I wanted him to stay in his position, he chose not to. He felt it was time to move on because Rothes FC is on a new level.”
Afterwards Mr Mulheron said: “I don’t believe in walking away from anything, unless I have a serious, serious issue.
“I was offered a job in the club. Richard spoke to me on Saturday and said I could stay on as vice-chairman, but it is not the job I wanted.
“I was acting chairman for six months, and I really wanted that position. I thought I deserved a crack at chairman.
“I’m stepping away because I’m very disappointed, and I can’t give Rothes FC 100% in the position they offered me.
“But this is not about Rab Mulheron now, it’s about the club and Rothes surviving. There was no animosity between anyone.
“I wished Richard and all the staff at the club all the best and thanked him personally for everything he has done.”
The Mackessack Park outfit are now making weekly payments of £1,500 to HMRC, and the local community are being encouraged to pitch in with fundraising ideas to get the club back to a credible level.