THE ousting of former Three Counties Agricultural Society chief executive Chris Milne has been dubbed "disgraceful" by the Malvern showground's former general manager.

In a letter to members of the society's council, Tony Halls blasted the "backstabbing and whispering" he said was crushing staff morale.

Mr Halls said he took early retirement this year - 13 months sooner than he would have liked - because of the problems he encountered.

Mr Halls has returned his life membership and has vowed to stay away from the showground after working there for 23 years.

He said he was asked by the society's management committee to share executive control, but insisted it was "unworkable under the circumstances of what had passed".

Mr Milne said he resigned in February "to recharge his batteries" after four years in charge.

But in his letter, Mr Halls claimed he was sacked.

"The covert operation to get rid of Chris Milne sickened me so much that I could not possibly continue to work under the backstabbing and whispering that was ruining both staff morale and the team spirit," the letter read.

"Several of the staff knew Chris was to be sacked well before he, or I, knew. This I found disgraceful and entirely unprofessional."

Mr Halls praised the enthusiasm and professionalism of Mr Milne, who turned last year into a profit despite the foot-and-mouth outbreak.

"At the end of 2002, the society is on schedule to make the biggest profit in the busiest year of its history, but sadly Chris will not get credit," Mr Halls added.

He claimed Mr Milne "did not want to leave and was devastated".

"The very substantial payment the society made to him to leave will never compensate for the shock and hurt he must feel."

Mr Milne, aged 52, told the Evening News he was unable to comment about the letter due to the terms of his contract when he left, but said he appreciated Mr Hall's sentiments.

His is now setting up a West Midlands-based consultancy which will work with leisure and tourism businesses.

A statement issued by the Three Counties Agricultural Society said it would like to draw attention to comments made by Mr Milne when he left.