Notts County chairman Ray Trew has resigned an put the club up for sale.
It is unclear whether Mr Trew is also stepping down in his role of chairman of the Notts County Ladies.
In a statement, he cited ‘foul mindless abuse’ from some fans angry at the side’s recent form among his reasons for the leaving.
A small number of fans protested outside Meadow Lane following the Magpies‘ 1-0 loss to Leyton Orient on Saturday.
That result was followed up with a 3-2 defeat away at Accrington Stanley on Tuesday.
Mr Trew said he had since been subjected to abuse online and “in person”, which had influenced his decision.
foul, mindless abuse
Notts are currently 16th in League Two after being relegated last season, with Jamie Fullarton in charge after Ricardo Moniz was sacked in December.
Mr Trew has owned the club for the last six years and has previously been on the board at Lincoln FC.
He bought the club for just one pound but took on debts of around £1.5 million in the process not long after the Middle Eastern fiasco.
In what he said was an open letter, Mr Trew said he had made the decision with “very mixed emotions”.
He said: “I must start by stressing that this is not me backing away from a challenge, I do not do that and, indeed, if I’d have wanted to I would have done so some time ago because it has been a difficult journey at times.
“However, when my family are subjected to kind of foul, mindless abuse that they have been in recent days, both in person and courtesy of the oh so brave keyboard warriors, regardless of whether this is just the minority ruining it for the larger supporter base, I have to make changes.”
“That said, whilst I have a somewhat bad taste in my mouth from the vitriol spouted by some, I do not walk away lingering on any negativity but instead will take with me the many happy memories that I have accrued from my time at Meadow Lane.”
He added: “I never claimed to have got everything right and I’ve not always made easy decisions, but every decision I have made has been with the best intentions of this club at the forefront of my mind.
“I would like to thank all those that have worked for the club in any capacity during my time at Notts, we’ve had some truly outstanding staff at the club over the years, many of whom have gone unrecognised for their efforts, but all of whom gave their all to help the club progress.
“So as I say my final goodbye, I would like to thank the core of true fans who have pulled together to back this great club and give their all in trying to move us forwards, your support has always been appreciated and will be the overriding memory for me because my family and I have made some very good friends amongst the supporter base.
“As Notts County prepares for the next chapter in its long and illustrious career, I wish them nothing but luck and hope that from here on it is all onwards and upwards.”
