Scottish Football League chief executive David Longmuir believes the departure of Gordon Smith from the same role at the Scottish Football Association is a loss to the game.
Smith's resignation was confirmed on Monday night by the SFA, who are awaiting clearance from lawyers involved in the resignation process to release a more detailed statement over the issue.
Longmuir said: "I'm very disappointed about Gordon's departure because I have the utmost respect for him."
Longmuir took over at the SFL shortly after former Rangers and Brighton player Smith began his role across the corridor at Hampden in June 2007.
Longmuir came into football from the drinks industry but, despite their different backgrounds, worked closely with Smith on several projects.
With Smith's parents suffering ill health, it is understood the 55-year-old felt the time was right to quit after growing frustrated at several aspects of the high-pressured role.
"I enjoyed a very good working relationship with him," he added. "We came in at similar times, he came in a couple of months before me, so initially we were both finding our way in the corridors of administration at Hampden and we both forged a good relationship early on, and kept it going.
"We worked together on lots of initiatives that me made good progress on.
"I'm disappointed he has gone but I can understand the pressure that the job brought."
Source: PA
