Brewery boss Charles Eld had lost the trust of his own shareholders when he lost his job as chief executive of Morrells, an employment tribunal heard today in Reading.

Mr Eld's position became untenable as the family firm faced closing the St Thomas Street brewery or selling the business, the tribunal was told.

Former chief executive Mr Eld claims he was unfairly dismissed in May, as he fought plans to sell the brewery and its 132 pubs.

But Nicholas Mason, for the Morrells Trustees, said that with the brewery underperforming, Mr Eld had "lost the trust and confidence of the majority of shareholders and directors".

Mr Mason added: "He reached the point where it was impossible to carry on with a chief executive who was in disagreement with shareholders - whose interests he was there to promote." Mr Mason said that the Morrells board voted by 5-1 to dismiss Mr Eld and he was paid £133,104, the equivalent of two years' salary.

Mr Mason said the management of the company had been called into question by PricewaterhouseCoopers, called in to undertake a strategic review of the business in May.

Morrells was sold in September to tycoon Michael Cannon for £48m.

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