Edward Chorlton was the third chair of Exeter City in the era of supporter/community ownership and served between 2010 and 2014. A former senior official of Devon County Council, his time as the Grecians’ chair ended unhappily when he resigned ahead of a vote of no confidence from the supporters’ trust.

Having had two successive club chairs in David Treharne and Denise Watts, who had both been active supporters' trust participants known to many, Exeter City looked outside the club for a new chair at the start of 2010. Boosted by two successive promotions, and confident with how the supported-owned model was progressing, the idea arose of bringing a person with senior management experience. Edward Chorlton, recently retired deputy chief executive of Devon County Council - and also the authority's former director of environment, economy and culture - appeared to be a strong all-round candidate.

Taking the chair with the Grecians more buoyant at any time since the 1990 Division Four championship season, and with Paul Tisdale emerging as a rising managerial talent, City's upward spiral continued on Mr Chorlton's watch as 18th place in League One in 2009/10 was followed by 8th the next season which represented one of the club's best-ever league seasons.

It then stalled. City were relegated in 2012 and the first two seasons back in fourth-tier resulted in 10th and 16th place. Not only was there a certain stateless around St James' Park but there was also a sense of complacency. Paul Tisdale's stock had begun to fall and a growing minority of supporters started to express doubts about the fan-owned model.

At which point news broke that, as a consequence of decreased revenue, the club had been forced to seek a £100,000 loan from the Professional Footballers' Association. Accordingly a transfer embargo had been placed on the club until the loan was repaid. At other times in the club's history, this may have been regarded  as of lesser-consequence but, with the club now supporter-owned, faith had been dented in the way the club was being run with the inevitable question "what happens if it all goes wrong?"

As it happened, better times were around the corner and there were already promising signs with a long-lease being arranged for the Cat and Fiddle training ground, adjacent land to St James' Park being acquired at no cost and the growing prestige and performance of the club's academy starting to bear fruit. There had also been early discussion about replacing the ninety-year-old main stand on the railway side of the ground.

But Mr Chorlton did not remain in post to see any of this come to fulfilment as he resigned in 2014 before the trust could hold a threatened vote of no confidence in him as chair.