Smith steps down from SFA

19 April 2010 18:38

Gordon Smith has dramatically resigned as Scottish Football Association chief executive, Press Association Sport understands.

Former Rangers striker Smith, 55, stepped down after less than three years in the role.

He succeeded David Taylor in the summer of 2007, before which he was a well-known pundit, as well as owning a players' agency.

Smith's resignation came days after Livingston chairman Gordon McDougall revealed he would write to SFA president George Peat demanding an investigation into the conduct of Smith.

McDougall was unhappy with Smith's alleged involvement in disciplinary proceedings against the club's striker Robbie Winters over allegations of diving. Winters was last week cleared of the offence by the SFA after video evidence of Livi's Irn-Bru Third Division win at East Stirling on February 20 was viewed at Hampden.

But McDougall has hit out at the way the process was handled. Smith, who has campaigned against the scourge of diving in football, attended February's game, which saw Michael Bolochoweckyj receive a second booking for a foul on Winters.

McDougall claims the SFA chief asked for a DVD of the match from home manager Jim McInally.

The Livi chairman says the SFA have since informed him Shire owner Spencer Fearn made a complaint against Winters three days after the game.

McDougall said: "I find it quite astonishing this information was kept from myself, Robbie and the disciplinary committee.

"It's either gross incompetence or an attempt to mislead folk. Either way, I feel Gordon Smith has overstepped his authority and that is why I'll be writing to George Peat."

Source: PA