CONFUSION surrounds the position of the director of the Three Counties Agricultural Society, Gareth Smith.

Amid rumours the director has been sacked or suspended, the society would only confirm that Mr Smith "is not at his job at present".

"It is a private and confidential matter and the society has no further comment to make," said the society's statement.

Mr Smith's departure comes just as the showground is gearing up for the Malvern Spring Gardening Show, which opens the 2004 season and is one of the biggest events on its calendar.

The show, on May 7-9, is expected to attract at least 93,000 visitors to the town, as it did last year.

During Mr Smith's time as director, he was involved with initiatives to link the showground more closely with Malvern's tourist and business economy, via The Malverns Experience and Great Malvern Association of Trade.

Robin Elt, the chairman of The Malverns Experience, said Mr Smith had played an important role.

"I think he was a great asset to the area," he said.

Last month, the society announced it had managed to secure stands at the Chelsea Flower Show and Hampton Court Flower Show, which will promote Malvern's name to thousands of people.

This is not the first occasion that controversy has surrounded Mr Smith, who joined the society in 1998 as finance manager.

He was promoted to the position of the society's manager at the end of April 2002. The position was then a new post, replacing that of chief executive and showground manager, both of which had fallen vacant.

Chief executive Chris Milne left the post in February 2002, saying that he wanted to "recharge his batteries".

He was shortly followed by showground manager Tony Halls, who took early retirement at the start of April 2002, after 23 years' service. But that May, Mr Halls broke his silence by sending a letter explaining the move to 60 past and present members of the Three Counties Agricultural Society Council.

He said he had left because he was "sickened" by a "covert operation that got rid of Chris Milne". He also said he could not work with Mr Smith.

This week, Mr Halls said he stood by his 2002 letter. "It was a matter of principle," he said. "I decided to have nothing to do with the showground and I handed back my life membership.

"It's a great shame because I was there for many years and there was always a great team spirit among the staff."