Club Statement

The Directors of Forfar Athletic have sadly to announce that their colleague and Vice Chairman Alastair Donald is to step down from his role with immediate effect and end a 15 year stint as a Director of the club.

During that lengthy spell, Alastair of course also served as Chairman for a five year period from 2012 to 2017.

Alastair had communicated privately to his fellow board members last close season that the 2023/4 campaign would probably be his last in both roles he occupied with the ‘Loons.’

He has now come to the conclusion due to time consuming business matters and other commitments in his everyday life, many of which see him heading overseas that the time is right for himself to step aside as far as his commitment as a Director at Station Park is concerned.

Alastair himself put it in simple terms. “I can no longer afford the necessary time and dedication that the role of a Director at a club such as Forfar Athletic requires and therefore felt this was the right time to call it a day. I have had the great pleasure of meeting and working with some wonderful people over the past fifteen years at the club itself and throughout the Scottish football family and hopefully made friendships that will span a lifetime”

His fellow board members are of course disappointed with the news but respect the decision.

Chairman Scott Murdie paid tribute to his departing colleague commenting:”I have admired Alastair’s enthusiasm and most importantly his true business acumen, not to mention his intense knowledge of the game since I became a Director of Forfar Athletic myself and he has also been a great support to me as the Vice Chairman since I took over the Chairman’s role at the club. I value greatly his friendship and though sad that he is standing down as a Director, I know he will always be on the end of a phone should I require advice on any matter.”

“Alastair moves on knowing there will always be a welcome for him here at Station Park and we look forward to seeing him at home games and no doubt a few club fund raising ventures in the near future.”

Alastair joined the Board of Directors in the summer of 2009 at the invitation of the then Chairman Neill Wilson, taking over from Neill in the ‘hot seat’ when he stepped down three years later. He then had a five year spell in the chair, before handing over the reins, continuing at that point as a Director, before taking on the Vice Chairman’s role as mentioned above.

Like all involved over time in football never mind Forfar Athletic he has seen the ups and downs of the games, but his part in both the overall organisational side of the installation of the 3G playing surface at the park in 2012 and then the provision of the business plan and eventual purchase and installation of the 1984 Lounge and Hospitality Complex merit special mention.
On both occasions his knowledge of the business world and his financial planning bore tremendous ‘fruit’ for the ‘Loons’ cause.

Alastair will also step down from his position as a board member of the SPFL.

He moves on with the grateful thanks of all concerned at Station Park for his commitment to the club over the past fifteen years and every best wish for the future.