Changes to the Brentford Football Club Board are being announced today, with four Directors stepping down.

Alan Bird, David Heath, John Herting and Eddie Rogers stepped down as Directors of Brentford Football Club with effect from last Friday July 4.

The Board now comprises Chairman Cliff Crown, Vice Chairman Donald Kerr, David Merritt and Phil Whall.

Alan first joined the Board in December 2007 as a nominee of Supporters’ Trust Bees United, which held the majority shareholding at that point, and then carried on as an appointed director.

He worked as Finance Director as part of a three-man Executive at the Club from January 2008 until he decided to stand down from the Board in January 2012.

He returned to the Board at the end of February 2013.

David has been on the Board since the end of January 2006.

He has acted as a representative of Alan Bird, who was entitled to a place on the Board in exchange for finances he provided when Bees United took the majority shareholding early in 2006, for more than eight years.

David held the position of Chief Executive from late 2007 until early 2010, mostly in an unpaid role.

John has been on the Board since 1992 and was, prior to stepping down, the longest serving Director.

His company sponsored Brentford’s home shirts for four seasons, from 2008 to 2012.

Eddie has been on the Board as an investor director since 1999 years and served as Chairman from April 2003 to January 2006.

For the past year Eddie has been a Brentford FC Vice Chairman.

Cliff Crown, Brentford FC Chairman, said: “I would like to thank Alan, David, John and Eddie on behalf of everyone at Brentford FC for all the work they have done for the club over many years.

“There have been many hours of unpaid work, much of it unseen, and each have provided critical support to the Club during some of the Club’s most difficult times.

“All have represented the Club on an official basis up and down the country and I am pleased to confirm that they will continue to do so.

“Their collective experience and advice is always available to the Board and we will continue to seek this as and when we need it.

“They have all made a substantial financial commitment to the Club over the years, which was repaid in full in July 2013.

“Loans from Alan, John and Eddie were vital to the survival of Brentford FC and I am sure all supporters will join me in thanking them for putting their money in at a time when it was most needed.

“David refused remuneration for most of the time he worked as the Club’s Chief Executive, helping to reduce expenditure when it was needed and raising funds for Brentford FC as part of his role.

“All four have also played a very important role on the Board since I took over as Chairman last year, but I now feel a reduction in Board numbers will enable us to benefit from the proposed efficiencies which we wish to put in place and they fully support this decision.

“I hope they will reflect fondly on their time at the Club and when the story of Brentford FC is told the role these four men played will not be forgotten.

“I want to take this opportunity to publicly place on record my thanks for everything they have done for the Club.

“They will continue to represent the Club as Associate Directors and contribute on match days.

“Following these changes to the Board, there will be further announcements in due course.

“We have agreed on a strategy for the Club which will take us through the next five years and I look forward to working with the Board in order to deliver on that strategy.”