FIFTY jobs could face the axe as Southampton Institute grapples with a spiralling debt crisis. Fears are growing of possible redundancies among both administration and teaching staff in a major shake-up plan.

Institute chiefs are to consider proposals to shed posts in an effort to reduce an estimated £3 million bud-get deficit for this year.

They expect up to 50 jobs could go over the next two years but hope to minimise compulsory redundancies.

One staff member, who declined to be named, said: "We were told that we were in a bit of financial trouble but now there is a general feeling of apprehension that jobs will be lost and future courses could be cut."

The cash crisis follows in the wake of losses of £931,000 incurred during the reign of controversial former director Professor David Leyland.

He was quizzed by MPs on the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee in March over a £160,000 pay-off, which included a £2,350 payment to solicitors handling his divorce settlement.

The Institute, which employs 1500 teaching and support staff, has also seen a drop in student numbers, a loss in revenue on student accommodation and costs incurred in a new computer resource block.

Don Robertson, branch secretary of teaching union Natfhe, expected consultations on any job losses to begin following a governors' meeting on May 26. He said: "We will start from the position that no jobs should be lost. Obviously we hope the Institute can restructure for the future but we have other avenues to explore than compulsory redundancies."

Mr Robertson added that he had sympathy with the management team as they tried to deal with the lingering financial problems.

Student union members have already held meetings on the shake-up plan but vice-president Nikki Pitt said it was clear current students would not be affected.

Principal Dr Roger Brown, who took over in April 1998, insisted the aim of the five-year restructuring was to put more resources into teaching and student support.

He said: "We realise change is disruptive and often upsetting for staff and are working very hard to try and minimise any negative impact.

"Jobs and roles will change for some but we hope that through retraining and redeployment, early retirement and natural wastage, redundancies will be minimal.''

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