Matt Roberts to step down as CEO

Scunthorpe United can confirm Chief Executive Officer Matt Roberts has made the decision to step down from his role for family reasons, and to pursue other professional opportunities.

Joining in November 2024, Matt has headed the team behind the scenes which has seen progression since he arrived at the club, with the club’s pathway towards sustainability and a firmer footing drawing closer and closer.

The Iron’s outgoing CEO informed the Board of his decision last week, and will formally leave his post at the end of September.

It goes without saying that we wish Matt all the very best for his future endeavours, and look forward to welcoming him and his family - who have undoubtedly adopted the Iron as their own - to games in the future.

Speaking on his decision to leave the club, Matt said: “I joined the club last year with a brief to help create a pathway towards sustainability and I am very proud of what we have achieved together over an intense period since. During this time we have overhauled club operations, from retail and ticketing to HR and financial control. We have made key appointments in stadium operations, events and hospitality, and implemented processes that can now serve as the foundation of future progress. 

“In the middle of all of that, we achieved promotion back to the National League and built a team that is already proving more than competitive at this level. I am so grateful to Michelle, Roj, George and Ian for the opportunity to play my part in this success, to my colleagues for their belief and support and to the many Scunthorpe United fans that have made me and my family feel so welcome here. 

“However, now feels the right time for me to step back and spend more and better time with my family, to pursue other professional opportunities, and for the club to enter the next stage of a long-term rebuild that is well underway under this ownership.”

Chair and co-owner Michelle Harness said: “On behalf of the Board, the playing staff and management and the team we have behind the scenes, I’d like to thank Matt for his efforts and professionalism since he joined us last November, and wish him all the best for the future.

“Coupled with promotion on the field of play, Matt’s tenure at the club has seen us continue on a positive trajectory off it, and we continue to be in a much better place as time goes on. Matt, with the help of the rest of our team behind the scenes, has transitioned the club operationally, with new systems and processes which will hopefully prove to be positive decisions as we move forward into the future.

“Family must always come first, and when Matt informed us of his decision to step down, while we were all disappointed he wished to end his Scunthorpe United journey, he goes with our very best wishes for the future. With a young family at home, and his other commitments, we know he was finding it challenging to balance his work life with his family life, and that has to be a priority for anyone.

“Within the club, we have a vast amount of experience behind the scenes, and we will be reviewing roles and responsibilities of our existing staff in the near future as we look to continue to progress the club forward.”