WIRRAL Met College needs you! The search is on for talented people with a fighting spirit to help turn the college around. Being a governor is a tough, unpaid job but is also challenging and rewarding.

The new board has already appointed a new principal, Joe West. Mr West, chief executive at St Helen's College, will take charge at Wirral Metropolitan College for a couple of months as the new board sorts out a £10m cash crisis. "We also need some more board members," says board chairman John Conlan.

"If you think you can make a contribution and would like to be considered for what is an unpaid but rewarding role as governor, write to me at the college in Borough Road for an information pack. Closing date for applications is Friday, April 16."

The Further Education Funding Council invited the previous board to resign and the new board has met to be told Principal Jenny Shackleton has taken early retirement and has now left the college.

Besides sorting out problems at the college, the new board will have to authorise her leaving package.

FEFC N.W. representative John Conlan chairs the new board, which includes local business people and faces a tough task ahead of sorting out problems at the college. It has promised to be as open and accountable to the public, staff and students as possible.

Last audited accounts for 1996/7 show a £10.731m deficit. There are 150 creditors, with Barclays Bank and the Funding Council owed most in this 'serious cash crisis'.

Since 1994 Wirral Met has lost 50 per cent of its students. There is no neighbourhood college replacement for closed Withens Lane College, now a housing estate. Staff are struggling to find the most basic equipment, such as pens and chalk.

However, there are hopes that Carlett Park at Eastham will continue to be used as an FE college.

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