Boulton interim club chairman (From Stroud News and Journal)

Boulton interim club chairman

FOREST Green Associate Director, Ken Boulton will take over as acting chairman of the club following the resignation of former chairman, Trevor Horsley who officially stood down after Rovers final Nationwide Conference game against Dagenham and Redbridge at The Lawn on Saturday.

Boulton, a coach company owner who has been involved with the club for nearly 20 years, was appointed as interim chairman at a board meeting last Friday and will continue in the role until the clubs annual meeting in July.

Horsley, who has guided Forest Green to unprecedented success over the past decade including two promotions and two FA Trophy finals, watched Rovers defeat Dagenham 5-2 to finish ninth in the table, their highest finish in the Conference and received a warm reception from a 1020 crowd before the game.

He also received several presentations on the pitch before the game from players, staff and fans and was clearly moved by the warmth of his reception. He will continue as a board member and executive director with a special interest in overseeing the proposed relocation to a new stadium over the next two years. John Clapp, the former Bristol City director, who joined the board as an executive director two years ago, is tipped to succeed Horsley as chairman at the AGM in July.

Meanwhile, Saturday was a day of farewells on the pitch with three players making their final appearances for the club. Outstanding central defender Darren Jones played his last game before returning to Bristol City after a seasons loan spell, while Rob Cook, a stalwart for 12 seasons came on as a substitute in his last game before emigrating to Australia.

And Alan McLoughlin, the former Swindon Town midfielder, capped 43 times by the Republic of Ireland, who has been dogged by back problems all season, also played for the last few minutes before retiring.

McLoughlin and Cook, along with Jamie Impey, Simon Futcher and Lee Russell are being released by the club, who will now seek to finalise contracts with the rest of the squad. Rovers captain Jon Richardson was named as Supporters Player of the Year.