Sunderland CEO Margaret Byrne has resigned today over the Adam Johnson scandal.
Mrs Byrne has been under fire since the shamed footballer, 28, claimed she "knew everything" about his child sex admissions but allowed him to carry on playing for the club.
Outraged fans have been demanding answers from the club as to why Johnson was allowed to return to the pitch just 16 days after he was arrested over grooming and sexually abusing a teenage fan.
In a statement posted on Sunderland AFC's website on behalf of the board, the club said it had accepted Mrs Byrne's resignation as a result of her "serious error of judgement".
The club said: "Throughout this deeply regretful situation, we recognise that one devoted young fan and her family have been very badly let down, first and foremost by Mr Johnson and his despicable actions, but also by the club they support.
"We are so very sorry for this."
Johnson's legal team claimed during his trial that Mrs Byrne was told Johnson admitted meeting with the 15-year-old season ticket holder and kissing her in his Range Rover.
She was also given a transcript of his police interviews and details of the 834 Whatsapp Johnson exchanged with the girl, they claimed.
Johnson was initially suspended by Sunderland following his arrest on March 2 last year.
But, after negotiations between his legal team and the Professional Footballers Association (PFA), he was allowed to return to first team duties a few weeks later.
He helped Sunderland avoid relegation last season and played a further 28 games in total following his arrest.
Johnson was sacked after pleading guilty to grooming and sexual activity with a child on the first day of his trial last month.
He was found guilty of a further charge of sexual activity involving penetration, and cleared of a second similar charge.
The winger was told to "say goodbye" to his baby daughter as he faces up to ten years in prison.
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