UNION bosses have said they are neither "surprised nor disappointed" that council chief executive Paul Najsarek has quit after just five months in the job.

Bernadette Gallagher, branch secretary of Bolton Unison said she felt Mr Najsarek appeared to lack the passion required for such an important role.

Council staff were left shocked this morning when they recieved news of Mr Najsarek's departure, who cited family reasons as to why he had left the council and moved back down south.

Council chief executive shocks staff and quits after just five months in the job

Ms Gallagher was briefed on the news earlier today and reacting, she said: "It was not really a surprise to us, we never felt Mr Najsarek showed the level of interest in the council or the town that he should have done.

"He has had a good share of that £160,000 salary while workers have lost their jobs and I'm afraid he did not demonstrate anything to make us disappointing that he has left."

 

In September, Unison and GMB registered a vote of no confidence in Mr Najsarek, relating to plans to transfer the delivery of the council's adult services to a new public company.

She said: "Someone in that position should have been incredibly concerned to receive a vote of no confidence but he didn't seem bothered.

 

She added: "I believe you have to be passionate about a town to be chief executive there.

​"We are not going to weep over someone who does not like the North West."