Plans are being laid by a citizens coalition in Invercargill to topple Sir Tim Shadbolt as Mayor, come next year's local body elections.
The city is already on course for its fourth deputy mayor in as many years as the man currently holding the job - Nobby Clark - has no intention of standing again.
An independent review last year found most of the council's tensions stemmed from a leadership void, with Sir Tim increasingly unable to carry out duties.
Our Otago-Southland reporter, Timothy Brown, has more.
