The Australian Professional Leagues, which runs the A-League, has confirmed the departure of chief executive officer Danny Townsend.

As has been mooted for several weeks, Townsend has left the APL for new job in the Middle East.

The APL will now be led by A-League commissioner Nick Garcia and the managing director of football website KeepUp, James Rushton

The pair will report to APL chairman Stephen Conroy.

“The APL has undergone extraordinary growth in just a two-and-a-half-year period under Danny’s leadership, and we thank him for his service to football in Australia and New Zealand, both as CEO of the APL and before that as CEO of Sydney FC,” Conroy said.

“Danny leaves the game stronger than ever and with a talented and committed executive team in place. We wish him every success in his new role

“As the organisation moves into its next phase of development, we welcome the joint leadership of two highly experienced global sports executives and passionate football fans in Nick Garcia and James Rushton.

“Each of their appointments was the product of extensive search processes that resulted in what is an incredibly strong APL executive leadership team.”

Townsend’s tenure included the controversial and divisive decision to sell hosting rights to the A-League grand final to the NSW government.

After just one year, the deal was scrapped this week and replaced by a contract for an entire round of men’s and women’s A-League matches to played over one weekend in Sydney for the next two seasons.

“We’ve made incredible progress over the last three years and I am extremely proud of what we have achieved as independent leagues,” Townsend said.

“I will always feel privileged to have had this opportunity to serve the game I love. I very much look forward to seeing it continue to grow at pace.”