Hereford United chairman David Keyte has retired from his day job, Principle of Bredon School.
Keyte has been at the school, which is close to both Upton-on-Severn and Tewkesbury, for the last ten years. He joined as Bursar in 2000 and bought the school in 2002 for £1 when numbers were low. Recently there have been as many as 240 pupils.
In February last year Keyte sold the school to a Spanish-British education group Colegios Laude after turning down several other offers. He will continue as a director.
Tributes to Keyte were paid at their Founder's Day.
"There have been pressures to change the fundamental ethos, but David has continued to champion the vision of 1962," said teacher Doug Sharp as reported by the Worcester News.
"Mr Ketye really cares about people," said Paul Albrecht, Chief Executive of Colegios Laude. "I have found him to be an honest, transparent partner; a no-nonsense and hard-working businessman."