Gill has announced he will leave the club at the end of the season.

"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," Ferguson said. "If I could have found a way of persuading him to stay I would love to have done that. But he has made his decision and I respect him for it."