Wharton to leave Scunthorpe

Boss Laws wants to take Scunthorpe into Division Two

Scunthorpe chairman Steve Wharton has confirmed that he will resign from the third division club after they failed to seal promotion.

Wharton finally ended speculation about his future after denying reports earlier this week that he had gone.

The other directors are highly delighted that he is staying on for a short time

Scunthorpe statement

He will stay on at the club on a temporary basis to ensure a smooth transition but has stayed true to his word of resigning if the club were not promoted to Division Two.

The new chairman is likely to come from within the remaining board members of current vice-chairman Rex Garton, financial director John Godfrey, former Halifax chairman Chris Holland, Brian Borrill and Barry Collen.

"After considerable discussion Mr Wharton kindly agreed to stay on temporarily to take the club through the difficult coming months of major disruption to the finances of Football League clubs.

"The other directors wholeheartedly thanked Mr Wharton for all his endeavours on behalf of the club and are highly delighted that he is staying on for a short time," said a club statement.

Wharton only became chairman at the start of the season after Keith Wagstaff resigned.

To miss out on the play-offs is very disappointing

Brian Laws

Scunthorpe missed out on the play-offs on goal difference, having been in the top-seven for most of the season.

Manager Brian Laws does not plan to quit, however.

"If you cut me in half you would find I was claret and blue inside," he said.

Laws took Scunthorpe up to Division Two in 1999 but following instant relegation, the play-offs have twice proved elusive.

Scunthorpe looked a good bet to finish in the top-seven virtually all season but stumbled at the critical stage to allow Hartlepool to snatch seventh-place on goal difference.

"To miss out on the play-offs is very disappointing. For 95% of the season we have been fantastic but we lost our form just at the crucial time.

"But there are a lot of good youngsters in the squad and I am sure they can get even better next season," Laws added.