Bristol City have announced that CEO Mark Ashton is stepping down at the end of the season when it is expected he will join Town in the same role.

As reported by TWTD in February, Ashton has been the man the Blues’ new owners Gamechanger 20 have wanted as their CEO, the 49-year-old having previously worked with Town chairman Mike O’Leary at Oxford and West Brom.

Rumours that Ashton’s departure was imminent have been circulating online since last night and the Robins have now confirmed that he will leave on May 31st.

“I’ve enjoyed working closely with Mark throughout his time here,” owner Steve Lansdown told the Bristol City official website.

“It’s disappointing to see him go but I understand there comes a time in everyone’s career when they want to take on a new challenge.

“Mark has been an integral part of what we have created over the last few years and he has helped build a strong foundation for the club to move forward from. His work as an EFL Director has also been of benefit in raising the club’s profile.

“I’d like to thank Mark for all his work and everyone at Bristol City wish him the best for the future.”

Ashton said: “I want to thank the Lansdown family for their support over the last five years. It’s been an incredible role and a privilege to be the CEO of Bristol City.

“I want to give credit to the staff who have worked tirelessly here and who I will miss very much. The club is in excellent hands with such dedicated and passionate people.

“During my time here, it has been a priority to steer the club in a proper and stable way, to see the integration of the academy and women’s team into a one-club structure, and of course to see the completion of the Robins High Performance Centre.

“The club is in a great position to take the next step forward and it feels like now is the right time for myself to move on and embrace a new challenge.”

Ashton, who has been an FA board member since July 2018, became chief operating officer at Ashton Game in January 2016 then in July 2017 was named chief executive officer, having previously worked with the Robins as a consultant helping to establish their talent identification and recruitment system.

Named Championship CEO of the Year in 2019, Ashton has been credited with wily transfer dealings which have seen the Robins net significant profits in the player trading market, while Ashton Gate and the club’s training infrastructure have also been transformed during his time with the club.

However, the appointment of Dean Holden as manager last summer, this season’s transfer business and a failure to make a serious challenge for promotion to the Premier League despite Lansdown’s very significant fortune have led to fan criticism. With Ashton’s exit appearing close, a Bristol Post story reflected on his time at Ashton Gate earlier today.

A former youth goalkeeper with West Brom, Ashton was on the Baggies’ board from 1990 to 2014. In June 2004 he was appointed chief executive of Watford and he spent four and a half years with the Hornets before a fourth months spell in the same role at Wycombe Wanderers in 2009.

Five years as chairman with Worcestershire-based consumer services company Grove Life followed before he and new Blues chairman O’Leary were part of a consortium which took charge at Oxford United. Ashton subsequently spent a year and a half as CEO at the Kassam Stadium.

Since May 2010 he has been the chairman of Tactical Change, which is described as an “international sports management company specialising in football management; particularly the business of football. Providing cutting edge solutions to the football industry, from player trading and recruitment to innovative commercial models that drive revenues and profitability”.

Speaking about the appointment of a CEO and Ashton at last Wednesday’s press conference, O’Leary said: “We’ve got a process under way and we’ve got people we’re looking at, and the timing of when we can recruit really hinges on circumstances for the people that we’re examining.

“I know Mark very well, I have done for a long time and he’s a good guy. But, no I’m not going to speculate further on people at this point, it’s too early.”

As previously reported, we understand Robins head of operations/club secretary Luke Werhun has also been ear-marked for a role at Portman Road by the new set-up. However, there is as yet no confirmation that he will be leaving Ashton Gate.

Photo: Matchday Images

boroughblue added 13:48 - Apr 13 TimmyH Think you've misinterpreted my point mate. I'm not saying MM has gone on to be Pep, far from it since as you say results are slopping off. My point is we wanted him out and were almost as happy as City fans are about Ashton leaving, yet we're now in League 1 but MM is still regarded good enough to manage in the Championship. My point was to not judge someones ability based on the fans reaction of them leaving, yes it could still mean Ashton may be no good, but the fans reaction isn't the sole indication of that...

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dirtydingusmagee added 13:55 - Apr 13 this is a new era for ITFC ,Thne club has been failing for far too long under Marcus Evans, its now a whole new canvas, [apart from the players] the new set up is assembling and looking like it means business, We must assume the plan is all coming together,and look forward to better times for the club. Dont pick holes if you cant find any, give them time to actually get the show on the road. Im looking forward to the summer, the prospect of a big change in players and the new season . COYB.

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ChrisFelix added 13:56 - Apr 13 New owners chairman CEO & manager. This leaves assistant manager & club captain which should follow by the summer. Pleased that we will now have football people in charge
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timkatieadamitfc added 14:00 - Apr 13 Well said sospier, couldn't agree more
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Blocker123 added 14:10 - Apr 13 A very talented man! On WBA board from age of 18, 1990 to 2014. Also played in goal! At the same time as being Watford Chief Executive for 4 1/2yrs. Wow he likes to keep busy!🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂
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ArnieM added 14:19 - Apr 13 Why the down arrows to my initial post ????? All I asked was what people thought and that I'm not sure . What was wrong with that ?
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Ipswichbusiness added 14:27 - Apr 13 ArnieM; why worry about “down arrows”? I don't.
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itfcserbia added 14:44 - Apr 13 ArnieM - look at it this way mate: down arrows for worry and up arrows for be happy. On another topic, BCFC fans seem like a strange bunch - their club improved in literally every single aspect since he took over yet they are not happy with him? Wow... looking forward to see where they will be in a couple of years.
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Razor added 14:47 - Apr 13 At least this guy is a football man and I think we all agreed a few days ago that this club needed root and branch changes from top to bottom in ordwe for us to compete again. New secreatary too-------fine with me.
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WirralBlue added 14:54 - Apr 13 It's official, Mark Ashton will be joining us on 1 June 2021
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Tractorboy1985 added 15:06 - Apr 13 Hang on... so this is the Bristol City who have been run very professionally in the past 5 years.. brought a certain Adam Webster for 4 million and sold him for 30 million?? It's not Ashtons fault that the championship is such a competitive league and difficult to get out of! We've been crying out for someone to run the club properly for 14 years! I guess you just can't please some people.....

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terryf added 15:27 - Apr 13 C'mon he must have something about him. He negotiated buying Adam Webster from us on the cheap for 3.5 mill and sold him to Brighton for 20 mill. When did we last have a footballing CEO who sold our players for a decent price? My only concern is his future relationship with Paul Cook who according to one of the Bristol Newspapers was up for the City job in the summe,r but was not considered culturally suited to the Club whatever that means. One assumes Ashton would have been involved in any Managerial appointments ar the time. I sincerely hope that they do hit it off because with the right support I firmly believe our Manager has the right credentials to take us to the promised land.

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BeattiesBackPocket added 15:34 - Apr 13 TimmyH have you researched the fees? I have they do exactly what Brentford and most clubs do. They have however spent approx 46 million just on players since Ashton went there in 2016 and recouped 79 million so making 33 million in the process a lot of those were decent fees paid for players who moved on for huge profit like Webster. Personally I'm happy if we do that it's how teams like them Brentford Norwich survive and compete in the playoffs etc. Not sure how thats just solely being a selling club in your eyes? When did we last spend 46 million on players? AND make Substantial profits from player sales??

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Marcus added 16:23 - Apr 13 I'm a bit concerned that Ashton seems to be a very hands on type CEO and Cook kept on saying that he appreciates ME's hands off approach. I suspect this is the real reason Cook is upset, it's notable that he turned down Bristol City. I have a feeling more changes will happen soon.
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TimmyH added 17:00 - Apr 13 BeattiesBackPocket - fair point, some have been successful at it particularly Brentford, Norwich have kept a main stay of their players while selling a few keeping the same coaching staff in place but the parachute payments also adding to financial clout...Bristol though seem not on the same level and have not succeeded on the pitch but sounds like Ashton has off the pitch on profit making for the owner, hence why fans weren't too hot on him. Anyway we won't be spending anything on players to the amount Bristol have as we are bound by League One FFP rules which will only allow us to spend a max of 60% depending on our annual turnover (sponsorship/tv revenue/match day income) re: wages which go hand in hand with the size of a transfer fee.

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BeattiesBackPocket added 18:07 - Apr 13 TimmyH exactly why we need structure at the club mate teams like Bristol had higher wage budgets than us when we were in the championship yet we have better gates and was apparently losing money according to evans so having a decent structure which Bristol city definitely do will help mate. Personally think it's good having him and O'Leary on board two men who know football clubs finances, won't be mugged off on transfer fees and will get the best Fees for the club which we haven't had in Over 14 years!

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BeattiesBackPocket added 18:09 - Apr 13 TimmyH also ffp has been relaxed due to covid anyway however we still need to manage within our means like Norwich, Brentford even Bournemouth we're spending money when they came to the championship and getting players in like Fraser etc. We need structure hugely these guys will give us that I believe.
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JohnyJohnson added 19:58 - Apr 13 He clearly has something good going on if O'Leary wants him again. He has ambition and a fantastic CV. A football brain and years of experience to draw on. I for one am positive about this one.
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wilnisfan added 07:04 - Apr 14 Bit confusing this article, who was chairman or ceo from where to where. May have been easier to understand if you just listed their achievements and roles in chronological order with short explanation underneath.
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