BLACKBURN Rovers managing director Derek Shaw had expressed a desire to leave the club before his exit was confirmed.

And it is understood that Shaw was neither surprised or disappointed when Rovers owners Venky’s took the decision to end his tenure on Tuesday night.

The departure of the former Preston North End chairman means there are now only four active members currently on Rovers’ board, two of who are based away from Ewood Park.

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Last night Rovers were unable to expand on the statement they released on Tuesday announcing that Shaw had left the club with immediate effect.

The club was also unable to assert if the search for his successor has started.

The statement announced that ‘due to ongoing other business interests’ Shaw, who runs Ribble Valley Shelving, had vacated the role he had held since June 2012.

The announcement came less than 24 hours after the closure of the January transfer window during which the 58-year-old had assisted new Rovers boss Paul Lambert.

But it is understood that by that stage Shaw had already held discussions about the leaving the club and, in all likelihood, ending his career in football.

There was speculation on social media that he was set to depart around the same time that Gary Bowyer was sacked in November.

But, speaking on the day Lambert replaced Bowyer in the Rovers hotseat, Shaw said with a smile: “I’ve not been told that, but you never know.

“There seems to be so much on social media nowadays you can put anything on there and before you know it, it’s a runner. I’ve certainly not been informed on that one.”

Remaining on Rovers’ board of directors is commercial and communications director Alan Myers, finance director Mike Cheston, Robert Coar and Gandhi Babu.

Coar, the only figure on the board who pre-dates the takeover by Venky’s in November 2010, pays regular visits to the club, unlike Babu.

Another Venky’s representative is currently operating out of Ewood and, along with Shaw, assisted Lambert during the January transfer window.

The emergency loan window opens on Tuesday.