Keith Hamill, chairman of Moss Bros and a former finance chief of WH Smith, has agreed to become head of Erinaceous should rebel shareholders succeed in ousting the existing management. The Observer

Chairman Nigel Turnbull refuses to sack founder Neil Bellis and his sister-in-law Lucy Cummings, the group's chief operating officer.

Fursa, the hedge fund that has tripled its stake in Erinaceous to 17%, is understood to have the support of at least 40% of shareholders and is threatening to call an extraordinary general meeting to force through changes.