Former Hibernian chairman and SFA president Rod Petrie dies aged 69

Tributes have been paid to former Hibernian chairman and Scottish Football Association president Rod Petrie, who has died at the age of 69.

Petrie served as the head of the Hibs board for 15 years before stepping down in 2019 following Ron Gordon’s takeover, but was involved at Easter Road for 28 years in total. He then served a four-year term as SFA president.

Hibs said Petrie had died on Thursday “after a long struggle against cancer, peacefully at his home in Longniddry, surrounded by his family”.

A statement added: “All at the club send deepest condolences to his partner Morag, his sons Roderick and Kenneth, his grandchildren and all his family and friends.”

Petrie partly owned Hibs in partnership with Sir Tom Farmer, who died in May this year. The chartered accountant had advised Kwik-Fit founder Farmer during his rescue of Hibs in 1991 and joined the club board in 1996 before being appointed managing director in 1997.

During his time at the helm, Hibs won their first Scottish Cup in 114 years and also the League Cup, while they were runners-up in major cup finals seven times. The club also redeveloped Easter Road and built a new training complex in East Lothian.

Petrie stepped back from his executive role in 2014 when Leeann Dempster arrived from Motherwell just before the club were relegated amid fan protests over his tenure but long-awaited Scottish Cup success came two years later.

Petrie showed his emotional side in a rare interview after relinquishing his involvement with Hibs in 2019, saying: “Am I misunderstood? I’ve heard that said, but why?

“My role at Hibernian Football Club was to make the club the best it could be. It was to give the players, the manager and the coaching staff the best opportunity to be successful. It was about performing at the highest level and progressing as far in every competition.

“It was never about me. It was never about whether I’m a good guy or a bad guy, whether I’m human or de-human, or whatever it might be.”

He added: “The remit was ‘you just pop in there for six months and sort it out’, and it turned into 28 years.”

Petrie’s presidency of the SFA came after an eight-year spell as an office bearer. It was interrupted in 2020 for health reasons but he returned to his role and led on the purchase of Hampden from Queen’s Park.

His successor at the governing body, Mike Mulraney, said in a statement: “I have been fortunate enough to have shared many a boardroom with Rod in our time as office bearers and directors.

“He brought passion to every debate and as many a player and fellow chair has experienced over the years, he was a shrewd and unremitting negotiator.

“In that regard, it was always easier having Rod on your team. None more so than during the Covid-19 pandemic when, even whilst quietly contending with ill health, he remained steadfast in our collective objective to secure the survival of all member clubs during an unprecedented period of uncertainty.

“Rod was also great company: someone with a devilish sense of humour who cared passionately about the game. He will be missed by all of us.”

SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster added: “Rod was a hugely respected figure right across the Scottish game and combined sharp intellect with a strong sense of principle, something I greatly admired.

“He was a key member of our board in the SPL era from 2003-2011 and helped drive important change for the league across that time.

“We also worked extremely closely with Rod in his time on Scottish football’s Joint Response Group during Covid, and he was a vital figure in helping steer our game through that challenging period.”