Coventry City chairman Mike McGinnity has handed over temporary charge of the club to MP Geoffrey Robinson.
McGinnity, who took over the reins from Bryan Richardson in 2002, has not enjoyed the best of health of late and is taking a month-long sabbatical.
Mr Robinson, who is currently president of the Sky Blues, takes over for the time being until the former West Bromwich Albion director chooses to return.
The decision follows a tumultuous period for McGinnity at the helm of Coventry City.
He took much of the blame a year-and-a-half ago when the club sacked manager and fans favourite Eric Black before the installation of Peter Reid.
McGinnity vowed to leave if Reid did not deliver instant success but, instead, it was the ex-Sunderland manager who was shown the exit door after a poor run of results.
The chairman's decision - and ability - to bring in former Coventry full-back Micky Adams as Reid's replacement went some way to repairing the damage.
But a blunder over a proposed change to the club's crest saw McGinnity and the board forced into a U-turn after an outcry from supporters.
And more recently, the club came in for criticism for failing to observe a minute's silence following the death of former manager Noel Cantwell.
But McGinnity's reign has not been without achievement. He has helped to reduce the club's debt from £60 million to £20 million.
He has also played a major role in Coventry's move to the new 32,000 seat Ricoh Arena, which is not owned by the football club.
