Businessman William Powrie steps down as Brora Rangers chairman as upheaval continues at Sutherland football club
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Brora Rangers are looking for a new chairman, as well as manager, after the resignation of the man who drove their SPFL ambitions.
Dingwall businessman William Powrie has revealed he had stood down in the wake of manager Steven Mackay’s shock decision to quit the champions almost a fortnight ago.
Powrie’s five-year chairmanship was packed with success, including two league titles and an earth-shattering shock Scottish Cup victory over Hearts last March.
But the antiques dealer and former banker decided it was time to bring in fresh blood at the helm of the club.
Powrie said: “I actually took the decision to step down a week and a half ago. There was no animosity at all.
“It was purely down to time factors, with my business very busy at the moment. I just couldn’t give the role my full attention.
“Timing a boardroom decision like that can always be difficult and I also felt, with Steven leaving, if I could leave at the same time it would spare the club another disruption one or two months down the line.
“I’d been chairman for five years and on the board for six and everybody has an expiry date on their forehead.
“I felt the time was right for me, and for the club as well, to take a step back.
“I’ll still very much be there as a supporter, but that’s my formal involvement finished now.”
Powrie had set Brora’s sights on SPFL status but Covid-19 denied them a crack at promotion in 2020.
This year’s opportunity foundered on defeat to Kelty Hearts, with the club having also missed out in 2015 after defeating Edinburgh City but losing to Montrose over two legs.
Powrie, whose duties are being temporarily taken by ex-Clach chairman David Dowling, added: “It has been thoroughly enjoyable and I hope in some small way I’ve managed to increase the profile and standing of the club.
“I do feel we’re punching well above our weight in terms of where we come from, a small Sutherland village.
“The club will only go from strength to strength. The current blip in form will be very quickly overcome, I’m sure.
“There are some fantastic memories - our performance down at Kilmarnock, our result in holding Morton to a draw, cup successes, a couple of league titles and some of the victories over lower SPFL sides.
“We’ll always remember beating Hearts as well. I’ve had a smashing period at the helm and it is something I’ll look back on with great fondness.”
Brora host Fort William tomorrow in a match switched north given Claggan Park’s current surface troubles.
