Derek Lindop, this week elected chairman of council at the Institute of the Motor Industry, was reluctant to work with Roy Ward who resigned suddenly as director general.

It is understood Mr Lindop wrote to other council members expressing his unease about Mr Ward, who was less than a year from retirement.

Letters about Mr Ward have been received by the editor of Automotive Management, outgoing IMI chairman Martin Austin and others in the industry.

Speculation led to an IMI statement which said: “The Institute is not in a position to substantiate any speculative claims or allegations.”