The Gaelic community has been rocked by the sudden resignation of the head of the statutory body set up to preserve the language in Scotland.
Iain Campbell quit as chief executive (Ceannard) of Bòrd na Gà ìdhlig for "personal reasons" just three months after taking up the post.
Two other senior members of staff have also tendered their resignations and are currently working their notice.
It is understood one is leaving the Bòrd's Education and Learning Department, arguably its most important section, and one from finance .
One insider said "It was pretty surprising that Iain Campbell has gone so soon as he really was just in the door."
There are suggestions of division and tensions within upper management about the future direction and activities of the Bòrd, although the agency would make no comment.
Chairman Allan MacDonald said the board was "extremely grateful" to Mr Campbell for the work he had done and accepted his resignation with "regret."
He added: "However, we respect his decision and wish him all the best for the future.
"We have put in place arrangements to ensure the continued stability of the organisation until a new Ceannard can be appointed.
"I can affirm however that this news does not alter the aims and objectives of the Bòrd and we will continue to work towards achieving the key strategic aims of the National Gaelic Language Plan."
Mr Campbell only became Ceannard on March 2. Immediately before his appointment he had been Mr MacDonald's predecessor as part-time chair. He succeeded John Angus MacKay who had been CEO at the Bòrd since 2010.
Mr Campbell is a native Gaelic speaker, originally from South Uist. He was the Senior Project Manager of Soillse, an inter-University Gaelic research project based at Skye's Gaelic College Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, part of the University of the Highlands and Islands.
Mr MacDonald, chief executive of award-winning sport and entertainment company mne TV, was appointed chair on June 2. He is now acting Ceannard while dealing with the departures. This is the second major upheaval within the last decade at the Bòrd, which saw an Interim Senior Support management team brought in to restructure and stabilize the organisation in 2008.
Bòrd na Gà idhlig was established by The Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 as a public body which is responsible for the preservation of Gaelic as an official language which enjoys the same respect as respect as English in Scotland.
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