Broadcaster Dougie Donnelly last night launched a scathing public attack on the Scottish Government after being asked to stand down as chair of the Scottish Institute of Sport.

He revealed he was asked to resign in a phone call from sports minister Stewart Maxwell.

Mr Donnelly complained of "a ridiculous piece of political manoeuvring", declaring: "This is not about sport - it's about politics."

Mr Donnelly's was not the only head to roll yesterday. It was also announced that Julia Bracewell was standing down as chair of sportscotland.

The move follows last week's announcement by Mr Maxwell that the two bodies are to merge to create a single, streamlined national sporting body. Ms Bracewell and Mr Donnelly have, effectively, been kicked into touch in what one politician last night said was "payback" for a successful defence of sportscotland's existence.

Ms Bracewell, a former Olympic fencer, and Mr Donnelly will formally continue in post until February 15, but politicians were demanding last night to know the facts of their departure.

Despite a government statement that one was to "stand down" and the other was to "vacate his position" this was not voluntary. Ms Bracewell, said by colleagues to be "gutted", confirmed she was stepping down after two and a half years following talks with Mr Maxwell who said he "would like to thank Julia and Dougie for all their work".

However, Ms Bracewell said: "I am very disappointed I will no longer continue in the position. I am extremely passionate about Scottish sport and believe we have made significant progress.

"Above all, I hope to see sport capitalise on all the exciting opportunities that lie ahead particularly with the Commonwealth Games in 2014."

Mr Donnelly characterised it as "a ridiculous piece of political manoeuvring", and told The Herald: "I'm disappointed and frustrated, but there's a sense of relief, because the last few months have not been fun at all. Instead of being about delivering important services to competitors, it has been fire-fighting and politics.

"I'm concerned about the future of performance sport. This is not about me. I'm not out of a job. It's something I do four days a month, and it all ended in a cold phone call."

The job will actually end for him on February 4, when he carries on his full-time occupation as a golf commentator.

Mr Maxwell paid tribute to the "positive contribution" Mr Donnelly and Ms Bracewell had played in developing sport, and said he valued their input towards Glasgow's successful bid to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

He added: "This is a time of considerable change for Scottish sport as a whole.

"The new organisation will drive forward this government's policy of simplifying the sporting landscape, ensuring the interests of sport remain paramount, and the whole nation benefits."

Former sports minister Patricia Ferguson sees Ms Bracewell as a victim, having denied the government their wish to abolish sportscotland.

"I presume this is payback for the campaign they waged," she said. "Julia was doing really good work on the Nations and Regions committee which aims to deliver a UK-wide Olympic legacy, and a Commonwealth one after 2014."

Former Labour leader Jack McConnell described the news as "shocking and disgraceful", adding: "The only loser will be Scottish sport."

Labour sports spokesman Frank McAveety said: "If anyone should be removed from Scottish sport, it should be the SNP's incompetent sports minister whose mishandling of the future of sportscotland has resulted in the loss of two important figures from Scottish sport."

Liberal Democrats called for Mr Maxwell to "clarify urgently" what they described as an "unconfirmed rumour" that the pair were sacked. "It will be a disgrace if, having announced they were retaining sportscotland as part of a U-turn, the government takes revenge by sacking its chair," said spokesman Ross Finnie.