SHAUN Harvey will step down as chief executive of the EFL at the end of this season.

Harvey will end a seven-year spell in the league’s hotseat after the play-offs, paving the way for a “change of leadership and a new direction.”

But the 48-year-old said he would continue to work on a number of ongoing issues, which are thought to include the ongoing change of control, and the monitoring of financial issues at Wanderers.

The EFL and Harvey have come in for some criticism over the details of a new TV deal signed with Sky in November 2018, which some clubs felt had been agreed without consultation.

The move to allow Under-23s teams to compete in the Checkatrade Trophy also proved hugely unpopular.

Wanderers have given Harvey and the EFL plenty of food for thought over the last few years, most recently over the collapsed deal to sign Christian Doidge from Forest Green Rovers.

The club has also spent considerable time in transfer embargo, including a 630-day spell which ended in September 2017.

Harvey said in a statement this morning: “Having joined the EFL as CEO in October 2013, I am proud of what we have achieved since then, in what have not always been easy circumstances.

“Consistently during my time, I have always looked to push boundaries to make the maximum positive impact for Clubs, whether this be from a financial perspective or by generating value in another way. I have always held the view that the strength of the EFL, is its Clubs and no Club, or indeed individual, is bigger or more important than the collective or the EFL itself.

“After discussions with the Board, we decided that the time is right for the EFL to now move in a different direction having concluded a number of commercial contracts that leave the League in a stable position.

“I am happy to remain as CEO until after the Play-Offs, in order to conclude a number of outstanding matters that we are currently dealing with, after which I will move on to pastures new and hopefully make a positive difference elsewhere.”

Debbie Jevans, Interim Chair of the EFL added: “The EFL would like to thank Shaun for all he has delivered since joining as CEO in 2013. The EFL is in a strong position with a growing fan base throughout the world and Shaun deserves a lot of credit for this. Shaun and the Board have agreed that the time is now right for a change of leadership and a new direction. We are pleased that Shaun has agreed to stay on until the end of the season.”