A SENIOR clergyman admitted today that internal troubles at a crisis-hit cathedral could only be solved by the resignation of its Dean.

The Bishop of Knaresborough, the Rt Rev Frank Weston, spoke out ahead of tomorrow's deadline for the congregation of Ripon Cathedral, in North Yorkshire, to express their views about the management style of Dean John Methuen.

Bishop Weston, who led an investigation into on-going rows between senior figures at the ancient minster, said: "It is fairly obvious that the only way that this can be solved is if the Dean leaves."

Bishop Weston was one of three troubleshooters on the inquiry team which has interviewed 33 people, including three senior officials whose resignations were linked wholly or partly to the Dean's alleged insensitive management style.

Cathedral bursar Nigel Clay, chapter clerk Dr Howard Crawshaw and master of the choristers Kerry Beaumont have all quit their posts recently.

Following the investigation, regular worshippers at the cathedral were invited to give their opinions by writing letters to the Diocese of Ripon and Leeds - and a sizeable postbag is thought to have arisen from the controversy.

Bishop Weston said: "Many of the people thought it was because of the behaviour of the Dean. We knew there was conflict but this was quite revealing."

Several weeks ago, the Bishop of Ripon and Leeds, the Rt Rev John Packer, announced that the investigation into the disputes had been inconclusive and invited letters from the cathedral community.

If there are found to be exceptional circumstances, Dean Methuen could face a church consistory court, which has the power to dismiss him if it finds beyond reasonable doubt that his conduct was "unbecoming of a clerk in holy orders."

The 55-year-old Dean has said that he is astonished and saddened by criticisms of his management style.