NOMINATIONS have opened for the top political job in Scottish local government, with the two leading candidates keen to be seen as presenting a clean break from recent holders of the post.
As outgoing Glasgow city council leader Gordon Matheson confirms his exit plans with Labour facing its greatest challenge for control of the authority in near 40 years, his potential successors have publicly ruled out "a presidential style" of leadership and vowed not to be cocooned from the public.
Mr Matheson's announcement that he will step down on September 10 means Frank McAveety or Stephen Curran are favourites to be in charge of the council within three weeks.
Both will put their nominations forward today.
Meanwhile, questions have been raised over what, if any, political future Mr Matheson now has after his defeat in the weekend's contest to become deputy leader of Scottish Labour.
Mr Matheson had initially intended to hold on as council leader until the Labour group's AGM which is likely to be held in February next year but had faced major internal pressure from his group to stand down as soon as possible.
Colleagues have said he faces a major battle to fulfill his desire to become an MSP, with most Glasgow avenues shut off following his defeat to Alex Rowley and claims he may seek a place on a regional list elsewhere in Scotland.
Victory on Saturday would have guaranteed him a place at the top of a Labour regional list and a seat at Holyrood until 2021.
He has already said that he will leave the city council in 2017, which could also bring down the curtain on an 18-year career in municipal politics, five as leader of Glasgow.
Nominations for the new council leader are expected to open within days with Labour choosing its new group leader on September 9 and the full council voting on who should be council leader the following day.
Mr Curran said: "All politics should be local. The council leader should be out of the City Chambers much more, supporting the work of colleagues engaging in the local areas they represent. Labour has to be seen as more relevant to voters in communities, that's how we can swing support and trust back towards us in Glasgow."
Mr McAveety added: "I believe Labour can win in 2017 and every Labour councillor can make a contribution to that victory by all of us pulling together and putting the people of Glasgow first.
"Most importantly it's about the communities we represent and the aspirations we share for the people of the city."
Mr Matheson said: "By confirming the date, the process can begin to affect a smooth transition to a new leader in time for the next meeting of the full council.
"The new leader will then have plenty of time to make their own mark in advance of the council elections in 2017.
"It is not a job for the faint hearted, especially given the budget cuts we have had to contend with."
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