Cheltenham Town Football Club will be looking to fill an empty chair in the board room with the departure of Gary Johnson, 69, the beleaguered club's Director of Football.

Mr Johnson retired from the club yesterday and the move, against a backdrop of dire results as the club struggles to make progress in League Two of the EFL, was met by a statement from Whaddon Road thanking him for his positive contribution both as a manager and director of football.

The club said: "Gary was instrumental in securing an immediate return to league football in 2016 following our relegation to the National League. He also helped to stabilise the Club last season following relegation from League One in 2024.

During his employment with Cheltenham Town, Mr Johnson also helped to recruit several players for whom substantial transfer fees were generated.

But among fans of the Robins and amid a dire start to the current season which sees the club tethered to the bottom of the relegation zone with just one win, one draw and six losses, the exit of Mr Johnson comes as little surprise.

Video on social media relating to the initial games in the season suggests criticism of Mr Johnson's role in the club's recent fortunes was both vociferous and growing. Fans unfurled a large banner calling for the director to quit at the home game against Accrington Stanley on September 6 when the team achieved its first victory with a 1-0 result.

Barbara Sue Attwood wrote: "Resigning was the honourable thing to do. Saves a lot of problems and embarrassment Saturday. Maybe we can get a win!"

Christopher Coleman added: "Back in the real world, this has to be the start of an effective and swift top to bottom clear-out. That's the only way to get the fans back onside and save our league status."

Born in 1955 and initially a professional midfielder, Mr Johnson has a glittering career as a manager, with highlights that included managing Yeovil Town in 2001 and leading the Somerset team to winning the FA Trophy before he moved to Bristol City in 2005, where he delivered an automatic promotion to the Championship in just one season. 

He later returned to Yeovil and led the club to the Championship for the first time in its history before his first stint managing Cheltenham Town, departing the club in 2018 and subsequently returning to the Robins as director of football last May.

● In August, the club saw its controlling interest acquired by international businessman Mike Garlick. Calls for the resignation of manager Michael Flynn meanwhile continue.