DUNFERMLINE chairman Ross McArthur will step down from his role with the club at the end of the season.

Just before the Press went to print this afternoon, the East End outfit released a statement that said he will walk away from the board when the current campaign ends.

McArthur, who played a key role in securing the investment of the DAFC Fussball GmbH group, has been on the board of directors since May 2014, having been a major driving force within the Pars United group, which bought the club out of administration a year previously.

Following the club’s promotion back to the Championship from League One, McArthur took over from Bob Garmory as chairman in 2016, and during his tenure the club have twice finished in the Premiership play-offs, losing to Dundee United, in 2018, and Raith Rovers, last season, at the quarter-final stage.

Last year, he secured the investment of Hamburg-based Thomas Meggle, Damir Keretic, Nick Teller and Dr Albrecht Gundermann in Athletic, and, in the summer, they took their stake to 75.1 per cent to take overall control at East End.

However, Dunfermline said that McArthur took the decision to step down in recent weeks following “abhorrent personal abuse and attacks”, which came at a time when the team are bottom of the Championship and without a win in 12 league games.

The club appointed Peter Grant as their manager in the summer, and his tenure ended on Saturday after defeat at Arbroath.

In their statement, the club said: “Ross has been a member of the board since May 2014 and was very much the driving force of the Pars United movement for well over a year before that.

“Ross has worked tirelessly, and on a wholly voluntary basis, for the club over the whole of that period. Everyone on the DAFC board is disappointed at Ross’ decision, which he made a few weeks ago, but fully understands why he wishes to stand down following abhorrent personal abuse and attacks to which he was subjected.

“Following the period in administration, under Ross’ guiding hand the club has, amongst other things: rebuilt its previously-tarnished reputation within Scottish football; stabilised its finances; improved its accounting, compliance and management systems and controls; achieved promotion to the Championship; made significant improvements to East End Park and more recently navigated its way through the complicated COVID-19 protocols.

“It was Ross who saw the necessity, and drove the process, to attract additional investment into the club, without which the club’s longer-term future could well have been uncertain.

“He has also, and at great personal expense in terms of time and effort, represented the Championship clubs on the SPFL Board.

“Even though Ross will continue for the remainder of the season, the board would like now to place on record our sincere and heartfelt thanks to Ross for all that he has done for the club.”

They added: “Ross’ decision comes at a time when the club is on the brink of several very important club infrastructure developments each of which, with the continued support of our new investors, is expected to crystallise before he stands down and which would never have been possible without his tireless efforts to make them happen. These will very much improve the longer-term future prospects of our club, on and off the pitch.

“So, when Ross stands down in May, the club will be in a very much stronger position than the club which came out of administration in December 2013. Everyone associated with the club owes Ross a huge debt of gratitude for that. Obviously, we will suitably express our thanks and gratitude at the end of the season when his tenure formally ends.”