JONATHAN Ford’s position as chief executive of the Football Association of Wales is hanging by a thread after a vote of no confidence from councillors.

Sports reporter Dean Jones first broke the national news regarding the vote, which resulted in Ford being placed on gardening leave ahead of a series of meetings that will “ultimately lead to hi departure”, according to a source.

Ford has been a leading figure behind the significant structural changes across the FAW in recent years, which has seen almost every area modernised and an unprecedented amount of success for the national team during Ford’s tenure.

Although the FAW declared Ford was still CEO – a source also told The Journal that the matter is “currently being dealt with” by officers and stems from a number of issues behind the scenes that have upset councillors since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Among the multiple concerns raised during an extraordinary meeting on Monday 22 February was the current direction of the FAW and the recent appointment of Angela van den Bogerd.

This is the latest significant blow right at the top of Welsh football, with national boss Ryan Giggs’ future still uncertain just a few short months away from the scheduled start of Euro 2021.

The FAW has come in for severe criticism for their handling of the coronavirus pandemic – especially the grassroots element of the domestic game, which could have some huge ramifications moving forward.

If Ford departs as expected, he leaves the FAW in a much better position than when he arrived in 2009.

The no-confidence vote passed by a 26-5 number, per source, and FAW President Kieron O'Connor was the man tasked with giving Ford the bad news last week.