Peter Swann: Scunthorpe United chairman resigns with club bottom of Football League

Peter Swann had been in charge at Scunthorpe for almost nine years

Scunthorpe United chairman Peter Swann has resigned with immediate effect.

The 56-year-old took over at Glanford Park in 2013 and said he was committed to the club long-term in October, but must "interact with fans better".

However, he has now left his role with the Iron bottom of League Two, 10 points adrift of safety.

Former player and head of recruitment Lee Turnbull has been appointed the club's chief operating officer and will take on Swann's duties.

The club said that Swann will make a statement on Saturday.

'Fans are left with uncertainty'

Analysis - Mike White, BBC Radio Humberside

Whilst the relationship between Swann and many of the club's fan base has been strained for some time, this decision - and particularly the timing of it - has certainly come as a surprise.

The Iron are in a perilous position at the foot of the League Two table and on the verge of dropping out of the Football League for the first time in 72 years.

The decline has been evident for a few years now - with various reasons offered up for that although the hiring and firing of managers as well as questions over the player recruitment process have all been cited by disgruntled supporters. As a result, fans' concerns (and even anger) towards the current ownership has caused further unrest.

He is expected to outline the reasons for taking this decision and what it means for the club going forward with a more detailed statement set to be issued at some point over the weekend, following the away trip to league leaders Forest Green Rovers.

For now though, fans are left with uncertainty and wondering what the future holds for their club, whilst their seemingly-inevitable relegation to the National League remains a mere mathematical formality with seven games remaining.