BOSSES at a college are being investigated over the payment of more than £55,000 in fees to a legal firm.

Glasgow Clyde College ran up the bill as a result of a decision to suspend its principal Susan Walsh and progress to a full disciplinary hearing.

The college also obtained legal advice after the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) launched a review of the decision to suspend Mrs Walsh.

Under financial rules set out by the SFC, any payment of more than £25,000 must be subject to a competitive tender.

Instead, the college asked for approval from the SFC once the money had been spent, sparking concern from funding chiefs.

A spokesman from the SFC said: "In April the chair and secretary of the college's board of management sought from SFC retrospective approval on behalf of the board for the action of the chair, George Chalmers, to appoint legal advisors to provide advice to the college in relation to the suspension of the principal.

"It appears that this legal advice was procured without competitive tender.

"At the time we were asked for retrospective approval, the amount spent through this contract had exceeded £55,000 and further expenditure was expected, but the chair was unable to provide an estimate of what these further costs would be.

"Given these circumstances we were unable to provide such retrospective approval until we had investigated fully."

However, Mr Chalmers hit back saying it was "grossly unfair" for the SFC to single out himself and the board secretary for "allegedly incurring legal costs".

He said: "This is not true and I am disappointed the SFC appears to have prejudged the matter before they have considered all the facts.

"The legal work costs increased considerably because of the funding council's separate decision to conduct a review of the governance of the college and its procedures, following the decision to suspend the principal.

"The board, on the advice of its legal advisers, rightly questioned SFC's intervention in what is a college employment matter.

"The board and the college would be failing in their duty if they did not seek legal advice on critical issues and decisions affecting the college."

The row marks a new low in the relationship between Glasgow Clyde College and the SFC, which has deteriorated rapidly since the suspension of Mrs Walsh.

Laurence Howells, chief executive of the SFC, wrote to Mr Chalmers in March raising concerns over the "discharge of his responsibilities".

The board have refused to comment on why disciplinary action was taken against Mrs Walsh, but it is understood there have been issues over her management style.

A confidential letter sent to the college board by senior officials from the local branch of the EIS described a "perceived culture" of fear and bullying.

An official survey of lecturers found 24 per cent agreed with the statement that they had been "bullied or harassed" in the past year. The internal survey also found the single most unsatisfactory and demotivating aspect of working there was management.