David Gill is to step down as chief executive of Manchester United on June 30, the English soccer giants have announced.

In a statement on the club’s website, the 55-year-old Gill said his post-season exit would allow the Premier League leaders to “refresh themselves with new management and ideas”.

United added that executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward would replace Gill.

Gill is a vice-chairman of England’s governing Football Association and one of the country’s most highly regarded soccer administrators.

United co-chairman Joel Glazer said Gill, who would remain on the board at Old Trafford, was stepping down in part to advance his bid for election to the executive committee of European football’s governing body, UEFA.

Gill himself made no comment about his post-United future in the statement, saying only it had been a hard decision to end 16 years of day-to-day involvement at Old Trafford, having joined the club as financial director in 1997 before becoming chief executive in September 2003.

United manager Alex Ferguson paid tribute to Gill.

“I have been at United for over 26 years and for 23 of those years, my boss has been one of only two men: Martin Edwards, who brought me to the club, and David Gill,” he said. “I have enjoyed working with both.

“Him stepping down is a big loss to me but the fact that he is staying on the board encourages me that the reason for his departure is heartfelt, that he believes it is time for the club to move on.”

Glazer gave his backing to Gill’s attempt to be elected to UEFA’s executive committee.

“I hope that the decision he has made will be to the benefit of the game in Europe as a whole, as he seeks election to UEFA’s executive committee,” he said.