• Ian Cotton follows Comolli and Brukner out of door • Handling of Luis Suárez racism row widely criticised

This article is more than 8 years old

This article is more than 8 years old

Fenway Sports Group is continuing its restructuring at Liverpool after announcing that the director of communications, Ian Cotton, is to leave the club after 16 years.

Liverpool have had a difficult time with public relations after their handling of the Luis Suárez-Patrice Evra racism row came in for widespread criticism earlier this season.

The decision for Kenny Dalglish and players wearing to wear T-shirts in support of the Uruguay international, who was banned for eight matches, was generally viewed as particularly poor PR work.

Cotton's departure follows last month's exits of the director of football, Damien Comolli, and the head of sports medicine and sports science, Peter Brukner.

The owner, FSG, and the club issued a joint statement confirming that the long-serving Cotton will leave on Sunday, the final day of the Premier League season, by mutual consent.

"We would like to thank Ian for the important contribution he has made to the club during his long career here," the managing director, Ian Ayre, told the club's website.

"He has played a key role as a member of the executive team in managing our relationships with key external stakeholders in the media and in the community. We wish Ian every success in his future career."

Cotton said: "It has been a privilege to be at Liverpool for the last 16 years. I would like to thank everyone I have worked with for all their support during that time and wish this great club all the best for the future."