Ulster Unionist Party leader Mr David Trimble today suffered a setback when almost half of his Northern Ireland Assembly group backed a letter querying whether he should remain at the helm of the party.
Mr Trimble: 11 MLAs voted against him
The Upper Bann MP narrowly survived a vote on the letter criticising his leadership, with 11 MLAs voting against him.
Mr Trimble said afterwards: "I am not going to go into the detail of the meeting and I am sorry that some of my colleagues have.
"But let me say I am quite happy with the outcome of the meeting and I'm quite confident that when the vote comes on my leadership on March 27th, I am confident in that outcome."
Under party rules, Mr Trimble is required to seek the endorsement of the UUP's ruling council every year for his leadership.
Doubts have been expressed about whether he will remain in charge following last November's Assembly Election which saw the rival Democratic Unionist Party overtake the UUP as Northern Ireland's largest party.
Mr Trimble has also witnessed a series of defections in recent months to the DUP, with three member of his Assembly team quitting to join his rivals.
Lagan Valley MP Jeffery Donaldson and Assembly members Arlene Foster and Norah Beare quit in January.
Party sources said today's vote was a setback to Mr Trimble's leadership, creating the space for a leadership challenger to emerge for the party's annual general meeting on March 27th.
One of Mr Trimble's fiercest internal critics, South Antrim MP Mr David Burnside, said: "It was an excellent meeting that was held in confidence.
"The discussion was excellent and straight forward. Strong views were expressed all around. It was an excellent meeting and that is the only comment I wish to make."
Mr Burnside is believed to have been joined by former Economy Minister Sir Reg Empey in the vote against Mr Trimble.
Ulster Unionist peer Lord Kilcloney was not at today's meeting. A party source said: "Had he been there, that would mean there would have been a 50-50 split."
PA