Stuart Black faces a year on gardening leave after this week quitting his chief executive post at Mears, the 拢200m-turnover social housing contractor.

Black clashed with former chief executive and current executive chairman Bob Holt over the structure of the business.

It is understood that there have been no negotiations to reduce Black鈥檚 one-year notice period.

The resignation surprised the City because the company had been performing well 鈥� a trading statement last month stated that results would be 鈥渁t the upper end of market expectations鈥�. This would suggest a 2006 pre-tax profit approaching 拢12.5m, up from 拢9.8m in 2005.

However, it is understood that Holt, who was chief executive for nine years until Black鈥檚 promotion in 2005, had become more involved in the business again in recent months.

A source close to Mears said: 鈥淵ou cannot have two chief executives. Holt very much wanted his baby back.鈥�

An analyst at Numis said Black鈥檚 approach was 鈥渕ore centralised鈥� and that this went against the 鈥渙perations heritage鈥� of the company. 鈥淸The two executives] are perceived as chalk and cheese in their management style.鈥�