Drum took over as BFNL chairman from Mark Johnston in 2005, but believes after six seasons in the role, the league needs a change.

Before assuming the role of chairman, Drum – the former coach of the Fremantle Dockers – had spent the 2003 and 2004 seasons as a BFNL board member.

“The first couple of those years in the role were spent consolidating the finances and our clubs,’’ Drum said yesterday.

“Then we had the advent of North City coming into the league (in 2006) and leaving two years later, then we brought in Strathfieldsaye last year, so there has been a constant array of challenges keep us going.

“We have taken the league administration from what started off as an amateurish, volunteer type organisation, through to semi-professional, into the professional structure we have now.

“We’ve had fantastic people come through the board and administrative structure and it has just been a constantly evolving role, which is a positive.

“My decision to stand down is a combination of getting busier with my work as the (Nationals) member for Northern Victoria, so I’m finding that I’m getting to the football on a weekend less and am devoting less time to the role.

“So there’s a sense of guilt in that you need to be able to commit to the job if you put your hand up for it, and I’m finding I’m getting pulled away... I seem to find myself spending my weekends in other parts of the state through work.

“I also believe it’s time to now bring someone else in with different ideas, and I think it’s healthy to keep rotating the strike.’’

The BFNL annual general meeting will be held on November 30, meaning the league now has just over four months to find Drum’s replacement.

However, Drum is confident that his replacement can be found from within the BFL board.