A bit left-field, but if he was, as the announcement says, "had an increasing involvement in the last 18 months," then he either had to step up and become the coach or cease any involvement at all (to be fair to the incoming coach)
I don't agree with the lazy trope that "He interested Matty Ellot's team"—he developed that team over the years he was in charge. OK, he hasn't done much since, but he loves the club and will hopefully be refreshed by a few years away from coaching.
Good appointment, I feel.