Scottish Football Association president George Peat (right) and vice-president Campbell Ogilvie are looking for a new chief executive

The Scottish FA are seeking a candidate with a business background to succeed Gordon Smith as chief executive.

Former footballer Smith stood down last month for personal reasons after nearly three years in the position.

"A lot of people on the outside think the SFA is about running the international team but it's anything but," said SFA president George Peat.

"This time around we are looking for a business man, someone who has a bit of experience of running a company."

Smith enjoyed a playing career with Kilmarnock, Rangers and Brighton before working as a football agent and a pundit with BBC Scotland.

He cited the failing health of his parents as reason for quitting but also mentioned the 'negativity' he had experienced during his time in office.

The chief executive, the team manager and the performance director will all work together George Peat SFA president

Peat is also acting as chief executive for now and, looking ahead to the new appointment, said: "Our first advert went out on Sunday and the closing date is 4 June so, after that, we will sit down and look at the applicants to see whether they are suitable or not.

"With the Henry McLeish Report coming out and recommending the appointment of a performance director, we are hoping to go ahead down that route from the football side of things.

"So, from the chief executive point of view, we are looking for a business man who is capable of running a £30m company.

"Before, he was supposed to be a 'superman' who could do everything. We are now looking for the business man as the chief executive."

One of the key recommendations in the first part of Henry McLeish's Scottish Football Review - which was commissioned by Peat - was the appointment of a performance director to oversee talent development.

SFA vice-president Campbell Ogilvie has been tasked with the recruitment process, although Scotland manager Craig Levein will also have some input in the appointment.

Peat added: "Campbell is preparing a strategy for that at the moment and, once he's got that sorted out, we will then go ahead with an appointment.

"The chief executive, the team manager and the performance director will all work together.

"In effect, the performance director's job will be to identify elite talent and bring it through. That's going to be his main objective because we think that's really necessary."

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