Ex-Tesco boss claims there is only room for 'one captain' at chain - The Sun

THE boss of TESCO UK dramatically quit yesterday claiming there was only room for "one captain" at the supermarket chain.

Richard Brasher confirmed he was stepping aside so group chief Phil Clarke could take a more hands-on role in the UK.

In a letter to staff, seen by Sun City, Mr Brasher said he "respected" his colleague's desire to be "more closely involved". He then added: "However, if even the best of teams is to succeed, it must have only one captain.

"Any lack of clarity on this damages the team, and hence why I am clear that my decision is the right one for Tesco."

It comes just two months after a huge profit warning triggered by Mr Clarke's desire to spend a fortune "resetting" the UK business.

Just last week Mr Brasher was with David Cameron announcing plans to create 20,000 jobs. Tesco yesterday played down talk of any row between the two bosses.

Mr Clarke told Sun City: "No, it's just not true."

But analysts were surprised Tesco could not find room to accommodate Mr Brasher somewhere. One said: "They'll miss his brain."

Mr Brasher's biog on Tesco's website was taken down at 7am yesterday despite the fact he'll be "handing over" until July.

Sources claimed he was upset it had taken until now for the UK business to be given the cash to invest.

In his goodbye letter yesterday he said: "With the right investment plan... we can reach new heights."

The move hands Mr Clarke a huge workload given that he is still overseeing Tesco's stores in 13 other countries. He claims Tesco needs to do three years' work in one 2012 to bring the UK business back up to speed.

Speaking to The Sun yesterday, Mr Clarke said: "Richard has done an extraordinary set of things in his career but this decision to step aside so I can get close to the business is the top one.

"There's only room for one captain in the team. He feels the business is best served by giving me more space. I respect that. It's a big and brave decision."

Rivals were stunned. One chief exec said: "I'm genuinely shocked. This is a man who has been in the business for year after year. And he appeared to be doing the right thing."

Tesco's shares dipped 3.1p to 321.75.

SUN CITY COMMENT: One thing's for sure, Phil Clarke's not shy about making changes. Things need to settle down quickly at Tesco if it is to mount the comeback in the UK it so desperately wants to achieve. In being bold, Phil Clarke may just be taking on too much.

THE boss of ARGOS came out fighting yesterday after another hammering at the till.

A grim trading update revealed sales at the high street catalogue chain plunged 8.5 per cent in the eight weeks to February 25.

Sister chain HOMEBASE suffered a 6.5 per cent hit. But chief exec Terry Duddy insisted both were "holding their own".

He told Sun City: "You can't go on weathering lower sales, but the thing you have to ask yourself is, 'What else is happening in the market place?'

"Comet got sold for 2, Game are going broke, HMV are going down and we say the video games market and electronics are difficult.

"Isn't there enough evidence to say that it is?"

Mr Duddy once more urged the Chancellor to up the personal tax allowance to 10,000.

He said: "He needs to put more pounds in pockets."

ARGENTINA yesterday vowed to SUE UK-backed explorers scouring for oil off the Falkland islands.

The country's foreign minister Hector Timerman branded the drilling "illegal" and "illegitimate".

It comes weeks before ROCKHOPPER EXPLORATION is due to confirm the size of its Sea Lion discovery in the south Atlantic.

Rival BORDERS & SOUTHERN is currently drilling its own well to the south of the islands.

Rockhopper shares fell 3.3 per cent.

Foreign office officials insisted the oil exploration was a "legitimate venture".

A DUBLIN-based firm claims to have discovered Ireland's first ever "commercially viable" oil field.

Shares in PROVIDENCE RESOURCES soared yesterday after tests showed the Ballyroe field off the coast of Cork could hold 60 million barrels.

Chief Tony O'Reilly, son of media magnate Tony O'Reilly, said it "could be a boom for the Irish exchequer".

BRITISH gas explorer BG GROUP is poised to pocket more than 570million by selling its controlling 65 per cent stake in Indian energy group GUJARAT GAS.

Gujarat supplies 317,000 domestic and industrial customers.