Scott Boyd has left Ross County after being made redundant from his role as sporting director.
Former County defender Boyd returned to Victoria Park last summer, having previously spent nearly 10 years with the club as a player.
Boyd had opted to retire from playing at the age of 33 to take up the role, despite still having a year left on his contract with Premiership rivals Kilmarnock.
Boyd’s position was predominantly a commercial role which involved a focus on the Staggies’ business and community engagement.
Among the projects Boyd led was “Rossco’s Route 400” challenge, in which the Staggies travelled to venues across the Highlands and Islands such as Portree, Tain and Fortrose to offer free coaching sessions to children.
The impact of coronavirus has forced Staggies chairman Roy MacGregor to make cutbacks however, which has led to Boyd being let go by the Dingwall club.
MacGregor says the lack of commercial opportunities he expects within football next term as a result of COVID-19 will serve to make Boyd’s role impractical.
MacGregor said: “We have made Scott redundant.
“Scott did a really good job on both the commercial side and in the schools, but because we are probably not going to be able to get back into that market with social distancing, we just felt he wasn’t going to get an opportunity to operate.
“We have come to the conclusion that we won’t be selling season tickets or hospitality, and we can’t sell conferencing.
“We probably won’t get people into the ground until after Christmas.
“Scott had moved up here on his own away from his kids who were still down the road, and it wasn’t going to work as we had nothing to sell.
“I think the income from the commercial side of all football clubs is going to disappear.”
Boyd is a fans’ favourite as Victoria Park having made 306 appearances for the club, before being awarded a testimonial in 2017.
Boyd’s plans for life after his playing career began with a sports management degree, which he started during his spell with the Highlanders.
After graduating whilst at Killie, Boyd worked twice a week with Rugby Park chief executive Kirsten Callaghan who he assisted with the day-to-day running of the Ayrshire club.
MacGregor hopes Boyd will be well prepared for a fresh challenge, adding: “Scott went and got a business degree, and it will give him a chance to go and probably try to get something outside football in the short-term.
“We have tried to honour all of Scott’s notice, so it gives him the chance to look for something outside of football.”