Mark Evans appointed CEO of the Gold Coast Suns

?Mark Evans has been appointed CEO of the Gold Coast Suns.

It follows the shock resignation of Andrew Travis on Monday, just weeks out from the start of the AFL season.

Evans has been football operations manager with the AFL since 2013 after leaving Hawthorn.

Speaking on Sportsday, Evans said the opportunity to become CEO wasn’t something he was expecting.

‘My time at the AFL was not done, I certainly had at least a couple of years left in me in that role, I would of liked to of got some of those things done but equally you don’t get to choose the timing on these things.’

‘That’s the challenge for me, when I’ve looked at Gold Coast I think I can really make a mark here, and people can judge that.’

Evans wouldn’t be drawn on the future of coach Rodney Eade but said the club were optimistic about on field success in 2017.

Click PLAY below to hear Mark Evans on Sportday

‘This is the latest step from Gillon McLachlan as pretty much a virtual takeover of football in southern Queensland,’ Caroline Wilson explained.

‘Football in southern Queensland is struggling.

‘Both clubs have huge financial problems and the Gold Coast haven’t succeeded the way they’d hoped, in terms of making finals.

‘The football side of the business has been incredibly disappointing.’

Click PLAY below to hear more on 3AW Mornings