DISMISSED Cowie Interleasing managing director Neil Pykett is to fight to clear his name and wants his job back. Pykett insists he has nothing wrong, following claims from the Cowie Group that he had lost interest and motivation in his job after being told he would not automatically become group chief executive, in succession to Gordon Hodgson.

In a statement issued by the Cowie Group to shareholders this week, the leasing chief is quoted as saying it would be pointless for him to continue in his present role and that he intended to resign.

Cowie dismissed Pykett seven weeks ago, for 'gross misconduct and persistent misconduct' after 13 years with the company, but withheld details of the allegations because it did not want to compromise his future prospects. But Pykett said he intends to fight his case to remain on the board of the Cowie Group at an extraordinary general meeting on April 9, which will not consider the matter of Pykett's alleged misconduct, but will ask shareholders to decide whether it is in their own and the company's best interests for him to remain on the board.

In a separate development Pykett revealed that he would pursue a claim for wrongful dismissal as managing director of Cowie Interleasing, a position now held by Michael Gwilt. He believes the Cowie Group should have announced his intention to leave the company in three years' time when he tendered his resignation last October, but the company kept the matter secret until this February.