According to a recent announcement on the TwoPlusTwo forums, both Howard Lederer and Chris Ferguson have stepped down from their positions on the Poker Players Alliance’s Board of Directors.

While there is a great deal of online conjecture as to the exact causes, I think it’s safe to say that this doesn’t come as much of a shocker to those who know the politics at work here. Lederer and Ferguson are two of the biggest names behind the Full Tilt Poker machine, and their continued presence on the board would undermine the credibility of the organization as a whole.

This is not to say that these two men are done fighting for the rights of American poker players. But as two of the founding members of a company in legal trouble with the government, their roles may come in a more behind-the-scenes or advisory capacity.

The pair’s bios have been removed from the PPA website, making the move official. Comments have not been forthcoming from either player. With their departure, the group loses an impressive jewelry collection. Of those remaining on the board, only Greg “Fossilman” Raymer and Linda Johnson have won a World Series of Poker Bracelet.