Wigan Athletic have announced that Dave Whelan has resigned as the club's chairman, with his 23-year-old grandson David Sharpe replacing him.
The 78-year-old, who bought the club 20 years ago, will continue to own the club but will no longer have a hands-on role.
Thank you for the memories Mr Whelan! - http://t.co/9DRveB5QAM #wafc pic.twitter.com/TvD5uC3YcN
- Wigan Athletic (@LaticsOfficial) March 3, 2015
Whelan was banned from football-related activities for six weeks by the FA in December over comments he made regarding Jewish and Chinese people.
Whelan accepted an aggravated misconduct charge from the FA and was fined 50,000 pounds, warned as to his future conduct and ordered to undertake a mandatory education programme.
However the club issued a statement saying that according to the full findings of the case the commission was satisfied that Whelan "is not a racist."
In a statement on the club's official website, Whelan said on Tuesday: "The time has now come to hand over the reins. I am approaching 80 years old and spend an increasingly long time abroad, and cannot make it to games. It is a decision I have been mulling over for some years and I believe David is now ready.
"Contrary to some suggestions, there are no plans to sell the club, which will remain in family hands and I have every confidence that David, along with chief executive Jonathan Jackson, will lead us forwards with wisdom.
"In making this announcement, I would like to say huge thank you to the board of directors, all the staff at the club, and of course the wonderful supporters of Wigan Athletic, who have helped make the journey over the past 20 years such an exciting and memorable one."
Whelan bought the club in 1995 with the Latics bottom of the old Fourth Division. Wigan's achievements since then include winning promotion to the Premier League in 2005 as well as competing in the Europa League after winning the FA Cup in 2013.
The club currently sit 23rd in the Championship, nine points adrift of safety with 12 games left to play this season.
Information from the Press Association was used in this article.