Blackburn Rovers fans will - rightly - be disappointed and concerned about the exit of John Williams at Ewood Park.

But, thinking in business terms, the real surprise is that he lasted so long.

As managing director and later chairman since 1997, Williams was used to having a free hand over the running of the club.

Yet when Venky’s completed its takeover late last year, he was subjected to interference and a loss of power, even being forced to fire his friend Sam Allardyce.

Rovers fans will always appreciate Williams’ steady hand in the years after the club’s Premier League triumph in 1995.

His tenure was marked by good business and footballing decisions, and pragmatism.

Supporters appreciated that he valued financial prudence and stability, backing managers instead of splashing the cash carelessly and firing on a whim.

When Graeme Souness left Blackburn for Newcastle in 2004, Williams knew he wanted Mark Hughes and led the protracted negotiations with the Welsh FA.

Eventually a deal was hammered out that saw the Manchester United legend taking charge of Wales’ last few games on top of his Rovers duties.

Hughes would go on to become the club’s best manager since Kenny Dalglish.

Williams, however, could also be ruthless. He was responsible for dispatching with the services of Roy Hodgson and Brian Kidd when their tenures turned sour.

He also fired Paul Ince when it became clear he was not the right man at Ewood Park.

And yet Williams was just a chairman, just an administrator.

Although his expertise will be missed, his departure was inevitable after ceding power to the new Indian owners.

The priority now will be finding an adequate replacement.

Like Williams, he or she must be tough yet diplomatic, and ready to work with the new owners.

Finding the right person will be the biggest task Venky’s chairman Anuradha Desai has faced since acquiring Rovers.