The decision comes on the back of a debate over the direction of the sport in Scotland.

The SRU have appointed Fred McLeod as interim chairman of Scottish Rugby with immediate effect.

SRU president Gordon Dixon said: "There is never a right time to make announcements such as this.

Clearly we have been listening to the concerns of the member clubs, the key stakeholders in Scottish Rugby, and these changes are as a consequence of their concerns.

"The general committee of the Scottish Rugby Union views this as a change of direction - a "new beginning", which will lead to a greater degree of openness in the future."

Meanwhile, three members of the SRU executive board have resigned following the 'no confidence' vote in Mackay.

Executive board members Fraser Livingston, Andrew Flanagan and Eric Hagman have stepped down in response.