PAT Bannister's troubled three-year reign in charge of Bromsgrove Rovers could be over, the Advertiser/Messenger can reveal.

But all attempts to verify reports that Bannister, the club's chief executive and majority shareholder, has been sacked by a firm of administrators brought in to sort out Rovers' financial problems, have been met by a wall of silence.

It is understood that Bannister, who joined the club in February 1998, was told to stand down on June 18 by an administrator working for Mayfields, a Halesowen-based insolvency firm.

All locks at the Victoria Ground were ordered to be changed.

The man brought in to run the club on a day-to-day basis is Tom Herbert, from Abberley.

Mr Herbert is a former Worcester City director and is currently a board member of the recently formed independent Bromsgrove Rovers Supporters' Society.

When asked yesterday he refused to confirm or deny his appointment and declined to comment.

But he admitted he was aware of speculation regarding his position.

A meeting between Mr Herbert and the administrator is set for today when it is expected his possible acquisition of the club will be discussed.

Mr Bannister was not available for comment as we went to press.

Ironically, it was Bannister who last year appointed Mr Herbert on to the Rovers board to help solve the club's financial troubles which dogged the Bannister years almost from day one.

Twice, once in 2000 and again this January, the club just managed to escape being wound up by the courts when faced with huge Customs and Excise bills.

It was following the last court appearance that administrators were appointed to put the club back on a sound financial footing.

Staunch Rovers fan and former Bromsgrove District Council chairman Phil Baker, from Marlbrook, who is also the supporters' society chairman, said: "The picture is very confused at the moment."

He added it was not the society's aim to acquire sole control of the club, but hinted it would be happy to discuss becoming involved as part owners or in its management.

Pat Bannister ran the club with his three brothers - commercial manager Simon, reserve and youth team boss Paul and public relations officer Andrew.

The club was relegated into the Midland Alliance last season for the first time in nearly 30 years.