Following Scotland's failed bid for independence, Alex Salmond, the leader behind the campaign, announced on Friday that he will resign from his post as first minister and head of the Scottish National Party (SNP).

The unexpected news from Salmond came after Scots voted to keep their centuries-old union with Britain on Thursday.

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Salmond, whose vision of Scotland's sovereignty has boosted his political career for the past decade and has led an electrifying wave of nationalism across Scotland, has decided a new leadership should carry on his political initiatives.

He told reporters gathered in Edinburgh that his time as leader is nearly over. However, he emphasized that the Scottish independence "dream shall never die."

The real guardians of Scotland's fight for independence, he said, are not the political leaders, but the people of Scotland who rallied behind the cause. He predicted the Scots would emerge as the real winner in this fight, even without independence.

Salmond's decision to resign is a reflection of the deep disappointment among pro-independence activists who saw the referendum as a chance to make a 300-year-old nationalist dream a reality, reported The New York Times.

He has also announced his plan to reject any bid for re-election as SNP's leader at an annual conference later this year.

Salmond has yet to identify his successor, but already Nicola Sturgeon, who played a key role in the independence campaign, appears to be a strong contender.

Early Friday morning, the first minister conceded with the result of the referendum, citing that he accepts his people's decision to reject independence even as he urges the rest of Scotland to follow suit.

In the end, the pro-union camp won with 55.3 percent votes, versus the 44.7 percent who voted for independence.

Salmond commended the Yes camp, which composed of about 1.5 million people and praised them for a "substantial vote for Scottish independence."

TagsScottish independence, Scotland independence referendum, Alex Salmond, Scotland