JOHN Wardle has resigned from City's board and has told the M.E.N. he plans to take a complete break from football.
The former chairman, who for the past year has been Thaksin Shinawatra's deputy, rescued the club from financial ruin before stabilising it in the Premier League.
His decision to quit comes after more than a decade as major shareholder, five years as chairman, and 12 months in his final role.
Only last season he was known to have bailed the Blues out of at least one mid-season cash flow crisis from his own pocket and last night he exclusively told MEN Sport he now intended to take a complete break from football.
He may spend some time counting his losses for Wardle took a hit of around £15m - more than a quarter of his personal wealth - while chairman.
He sold shares he'd bought at between 90p and £1 for just 40p which put a £5m hole in his pocket. And when his £20m worth of personal loans were paid by Shinawatra - in instalments - Wardle settled for around 50p in the pound, thereby losing around £10m solely for the good of the club.
Wardle was also known to be deeply upset by the sacking of Sven-Goran Eriksson at the end of last season and reached his decision to go only after a deal of soul-searching.
"It is the end of an era and I suppose, basically, I feel the time is right to move on," he declared. "I feel I have done as much as I can.
"I feel as though I can be proud of what I achieved whilst the club's major shareholder. We managed to put the finances on a more sound footing, move from Maine Road and remain a Premier League side.
"At the same time we created an excellent training facility at Carrington and invested in the Academy which has produced the goods.
Investment
"There came a time, though, when my resources were simply not enough for the club to compete in the transfer market and we had to get more investment into the board- room. That's why I sold the club last year.
"Hopefully, Thaksin Shinawatra will continue to invest in the club and it will go from strength to strength. That is what the fans deserve and I would like to thank them for their understanding and terrific backing over the last decade.
"Not being involved will leave a big hole in my life."
Wardle, along with former business partner David Makin, made his multi-million pound fortune from building JD Sports from scratch and then selling it. Both men pumped money into the club just to keep it afloat with Wardle refusing interest on tens of millions of pounds worth of loans over the past decade.
The departure of former fellow board members Dennis Tueart and Alistair Mackintosh left former fireman Wardle more and more isolated in the board room and in the end he decided he could give no more.
Lawyer Bryan Bodek is now the only surving memebr of Wardle's original board.
Despite Wardle's love for the club he will stay away from the ground for the foreseeable future `watching from afar.'
City's executive chairman Garry Cook warmly praised Wardle's contribution.
"Our disappointment at John stepping down is only matched by our gratitude for the dedication he has shown on so many levels at this club," he said.
"Every single City fan owes John Wardle an enormous thank you.
"He has been the fabric of this club and without his input we would not be in the position in which we find ourselves."
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Anyone know why? But anyway, thanks JW a true blue, who was there when the club really needed you. Bon voyage and have a happy retirement.
Top bloke, we owe him a lot.
Cheers for all the hard work, good luck!
A truly class bloke would of liked to of seen him stay in some kind of role,definately kept our heads above water in difficult times,good luck in whatever you decide to do.
I've got a horrible feeling that things are going to start going wrong AGAIN. I'm not being overly negative, but our current chairman is facing corruption charges and might do bird for 13 years without leave of appeal.
I remember John piling into the City end in the second half of the Famous City V Spurs FA Cup game........
I wish he'd got rid of some of the dead-wood in the back room team long ago
I still wish him all the very best for the future...
I think this is sad. A true blue and man of decency with the club at heart.
"All revolutions devour their children" Ernst Röhm.
Thanks for everything Mr Wardle, hopefully we're on our way to bigger and better things.
Thanks JW. An honourable man who did indeed give us stability to build on
Thanks a billion John. There are many on this thread that under estimate your contribution to this Football club, but quite simply without your guidance we wouldnt be looking forward to a bright and Blue (sky blue that is) Future.
I wish you all the best for the future, and will never forget the fact that you took on a loss just so that the takeover could be completed.
No surprise really after Macintosh went. He did well really, but we will have to reserve judgement or rather the Thia supreme court will pass judgement on the wisdom of handing over to his successor. Of more concern now is the likelehood of Dr T's trial dragging on and his funds continuing to be frozen and a strong possibilty of a jail sentence and his funds being confiscated at the end of it all. Hey ho!
Without condoning violence I liked the report on the Boro game - "fighting marred City's 8-1 defeat at Middlesbrough on May 11" - as if otherwise it was a good day out!
Good luck JW we will miss you and the club owes you a huge debt for keeping it in the top flight and for knowing when to let go regardless of the cost to you and your family.
The timing of this worries me. Just when Shinawatra`s trial is udner way. It looks ominous to me and I hope I am wrong.
And in regards to those fans wanted in connection with the trouble at Midlesborough. I think it's only fair in future matches that if your team is beaten 7 goals or more it's legal for the fans to run onto the pitch and deliver a beating to their own players.
No trouble for anyone else, just a fair punishment for the over-priced mercenaries!
OK. Bye then.
All the best John and many thanks for all the work you have put into the club over the past years.
A true supporter of the club.
Save the club more than once
Thanks very much Makin & Wardle.
a big thanks to mr wardle. he dragged the club back to its rightfull place. all the very best.....wouldn't surprise me though if he's jumped ship before another drama series occurs.
Good luck for the future Mr Wardle , your contribution to City will not be forgotten.
nice man and true blue.! sorry to see you go .thanks for everything.
John, thank you for everything you have done for our football club. This is a really sad day for Manchester City. Without you - and david makin we probably wouldn't have a club to support. True fans know how much you care.
I'm sure I speak for almost all City fans in thanking John Wardle for all he's done for the club. Where would we be now without the personal funds he ploughed in and his commitment to the cause? If you're reading John, best wished for the future.
Seems like an interesting choice of moment to step down to me? Could it be that he know something that we don't concerning the good doctor's chances of getting off & is scarpering before his reputation is damaged by association?
The more I learn about the court proceedings currently taking place in Thailand, the stickier our chairman's wicket seems to appear!
Now that's worrying.Does John know something we don't.Dr T's future is very unclear at the moment.Maybe John's running before all the 'why did you sell to him'questions start.Just a thought.
thanks john. He and David Makin basically bailed the club out. He always put his money where his mouth was and put the club first. John Wardle was a realist. He had no money to spend so he appointed Pearce. Pearce left when Shinawatra came in. We may just be going back to Mr Wardle with cap in hand if things don't go to plan in Thailand! A stepping stone chairman without bags of money who did a reasonable job. Most important thing he did was attract a foreign investor and wasn't greedy in selling his shares.