A ROOKIE councillor, a former Scottish minister and the city's finance chief are amongst the front runners to replace the outgoing leader of the country's largest local authority.

With Gordon Matheson informing colleagues he will quit the post he has held since 2010 in a matter of months, speculation is growing as to who will take his place as leader of Glasgow City Council.

The Herald has spoken to a number of key players within Labour as to who is likely succeed Mr Matheson, with Fair Trade Scotland director Martin Rhodes, former city leader and culture minister Frank McAveety and Paul Rooney, the council treasurer and ex-Strathclyde Police Authority chairman tipped as favourites.

It comes amid mounting pressure on Mr Matheson to go sooner than the council's ruling Labour group's annual general meeting in early 2016 and internal strife within the administration over the timetable for his exit.

Simmering tensions have been brought to a head by Mr Matheson's decision to stand as deputy leader of Scottish Labour and accusations he is using the role as a "lifeboat" to escape local government for Holyrood.

There was speculation last night Mr Matheson could go as soon as August if he is defeated by either Alex Rowley or Richard Baker to become Scottish Labour's number two and the party performs badly in four upcoming city by-elections.

Others considered potential contenders include the group's current whip James Adams, well known within the party machine and ally of the Sarwar dynasty, Stephen Curran, the political head of education and a former Holyrood candidate, executive member for personnel Matt Kerr and social work chief Malcolm Cunning.

Current deputy leader Archie Graham is also likely consider his chances, while any move from a female candidate is likely to come from 2012's intake Pauline McKeever, Emma Gillan or Judith Fisher.

One senior source said although Mr Rooney, current a member of the board of Police Scotland, would be the stand-out candidate, he may consider the job too much of a personal risk.

Sources have also said there may be potential issues with Mr Rhodes public recognition and commitments to Fair Trade Scotland, and while Mr McAveety, who held the post in the late 1990s, could bring profile and easy manner that may be compromised by his electoral defeat in 2011.

The source said: "People would fall behind Paul, no doubt. He's a talented guy with a good intellect and problem solving capabilities. The problem is he's going to take those skills out into the real world after 2017 and won't want tainted with what the top job can bring.

"Martin might be new but has been Anne McKechin's agent, runs a big organisation already and may have support with powerful figures outside the group. But is that enough to win Glasgow for Labour 2017?

"Frank's done the job before, is good at connecting with folk, has a profile and an older Labour identity. But it's not that long ago he lost Shettleston."

Another said: "Archie will pitch himself as safe pair of hands, prepared to be the fall guy but will want recognition if we win in 2017, while Stephen Curran could be good if we need a coalition. The others will fancy it but I'm not sure of their chances."

Another added: "Where we are nationally and at a city level we need a fighter. Of those realistic I see only one fitting the bill."

Mr Matheson, who took the reins after one of the most tumultuous periods in the authority's recent history, told a fractious four-hour meeting of the city's ruling Labour administration of his intention on Thursday.

Despite public criticism of him yesterday, Labour said no internal rules had been broken despite it taking place during a leadership campaign.

A spokesman said: "Scottish Labour has received no complaints about conduct during this election."