FIFTY-TWO people have applied to be Vincent CEO.

The job is vacant after councillors decided 7-1 not to renew veteran CEO John Giorgi’s contract. Following that decision some of Mr Giorgi’s supporters reckoned the council—which may disappear in mergers—would have trouble filling the role.

“In fact it’s been quite the opposite,” says mayor John Carey. “And the advice from our recruiting company is we have a strong field with some very strong candidates.”

Interviews start within the week. Meanwhile Mr Giorgi wasn’t long out of a job: He’s picked up a six-month gig at nearby Cambridge council handling amalgamation and standing in when the infrastructure chief goes on hols.