IT'S hardly the protest that The Diary expected with the Conservative Party conference in town, but I hear that fans of "forgotten" X Factor star Shayne Ward are planning to lobby support for the Clayton lad this weekend.

Prompted by an M.E.N. interview revealing Shayne's frustrations about his third album, dozens of fans are set to gather in Castlefield and demand that his new material gets a prompt release.

The 24-year-old singer's third LP had been due in the spring, but will now not be released until at least February.

Terrified that Shayne's management and record company have simply lost interest in him, his supporters have prepared a statement which reads: "When likeable Manchester lad Shayne Ward beat off 75,000 and won the X Factor following 10.8m votes, he not only won a record contract worth £1m, he became a people's champion.

"It has been nearly two years since Shayne last released new material. We now feel compelled to speak out.

"Shayne's manager Louis Walsh has pointed the finger of blame at the record company Shayne is signed to - Syco Music, owned by Simon Cowell.

"Louis states that he does not believe that Shayne has had a `fair crack of the whip'.

"We, the fans, do not feel that Shayne has either. We ask that Louis Walsh and Syco Music now work together to rectify this and quickly.

"We, the buying public, want a new album. We want a new tour, and we want Shayne to be given the chance to shine like the star we know he truly is!"

The protest has been organised by Julie `Jules' Nelson-Littleproud, who will travel to Manchester from her home in County Durham and will be joined by fans from as far away as London and Scotland on Saturday. She first saw Shayne perform during the X Factor Live tour following his 2005 TV victory and says: "He hasn't forgotten where he comes from - he remembers his roots.

"He's just a normal person, really down to earth and so easy to talk to, not at all struck by stardom. He appreciates his fans and he always does the best for them."