A TOP COLLEGE principal from Alkrington has resigned following a dispute with the chairman of governors.

Mike O'Hare, head of top-ranking Holy Cross College in Bury, will step down in August after 15 years in charge of the Catholic sixth form college – rated as one of the best in the country.

Mr O’Hare's shock departure followed a row with Anne Fox, the college's chair of governors, over his objection to the appointment of a deputy principal last May and has prompted a massive internet campaign calling for him to be reinstated.

More than 900 current and former students have signed a petition on social networking site Facebook backing the popular principal and also calling for the resignation of the board of governors.

Speaking about the support he has received since handing in his resignation, Mr O'Hare said: "I have just been absolutely overwhelmed by the support of staff and students. I have had so many emails and cards and it has been a great source of consolation to me that people have taken the time to express their support in the way they have."

The 63 year-old, who has lived in Alkrington for 35 years and has been at the college for a total of 28 years, has overseen a massive expansion and rise to the top of the league tables with the sixth form college coming in the top 10 nationally for A-level results for the past three years.

It was also recently ranked as second best in the country in terms of success rates by the Learning and Skills Council based on combining pupil achievement and retention rates.

His resignation came after he disagreed with the selection panel's preferred candidate and wrote to governors and Mrs Fox to inform them of his objections.

He also discussed the matter with his college management team. But by doing that Mr O'Hare was accused of breaching confidentiality rules and given a written warning for alleged misconduct.

Mr O'Hare said Mrs Fox was chairman of the deputy principal selection panel and had set up a panel to see if Mr O'Hare had a case to answer, ruled he did and was the sole adjudicator at the warning hearing

He lost a subsequent appeal, which Mrs Fox did not sit on, then resigned.

Two staff also resigned as governors in protest and a letter signed by 187 staff has been sent to Mrs Fox demanding a clarification meeting.

Mr O'Hare, who was also backed by his union the Association of Teachers and College Lecturers, said he was ‘angered and saddened’ and said not sharing key information with senior staff was ‘inconceivable’.

Mr O'Hare said: "For the good of the college, I could not support the recommendation for the deputy head, purely on a professional basis. I informed the college management team then wrote to the governors and told them about my reservations.

"I do not think that this amounts to misconduct and no one else does. The idea of not sharing information with my management team is inconceivable.

"I have seen the college grow from 350 pupils to 1,760 over 28 years and I am angry about the way I have been treated.

"I would not have gone on beyond next summer but this has crystallised my decision."

No deputy head was ever appointed.

Mrs Fox refused to comment.

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