MINISTERS have taken the unprecedented step of sacking the board of a Scottish college at the centre of a row over the suspension of its principal.

Angela Constance, the Education Secretary, has laid an order before the Scottish Parliament to remove eight members of the board of Glasgow Clyde College.

A statement from the Scottish Government said the decision was taken because of "repeated incidences of board failure relating to governance, including breaches of its terms and conditions of grant".

Ms Constance said: "We have been engaging directly with the college since May after staff, students and local representatives raised concerns about governance.

“The outgoing board has failed to discharge its duties on a number of counts, including breaching clear rules on expenditure limits, allowing its relationship with student representatives to break down, and failing to investigate governance concerns raised by the principal before her suspension.

"Having considered all the information, and taken into account what is in the best interests and needs of students and staff at the college, I am clear that a new board is needed to take Glasgow Clyde College forward.

"I am confident the new board will act quickly to forge a positive relationship with its 27,000 students and staff so the college can fully focus on supporting learners to achieve their ambitions and ensuring the institution plays a key role in the life of Glasgow, its people and its economy.”

The move comes after a raft of concerns over the way the board acted after college principal Susan Walsh was suspended on full pay by chairman of the board George Chalmers in February.

Issues include breaches of financial rules understood to be in relation to ongoing legal fees spent by the college to defend its actions, which have topped £200,000.

The college has had no principal since February and the relationship between the board and student representatives appeared to have broken down at one point.

The Education Secretary also announced the new board members who will take up post immediately.

The new appointments include Alex Linkston, former chief executive of West Lothian Council, who will become the new chair.

he said: "I am very pleased to take on this role. Public confidence in the governance of the college is essential to its success.

"I’m looking forward to working with the new board, students and staff to ensure it is well run and delivers the best possible outcomes for all those studying, working and engaging in other ways with the college."