Alan Ritchie is one of four candidates planning to contest the election for a new general secretary which starts in November.

Ritchie was removed from office earlier this year after ballot irregularities were discovered in the 2009 election race by the Trade Union Certification Office.

An internal investigation is also believed to be underway by Ucatt into Ritchie’s reign but the union refused to comment on the details.

The union hierarchy have already had an appeal against the order to re-run the election turned down.

Candidates are now putting themselves forward for nomination with a winner due to be announced in January.

Contesting the race with Ritchie will be Mick Dooley, Steve Murphy and Jerry Swain.

Dooley lost the disgraced 2009 election to Ritchie and is currently embroiled in a legal action with the union.

Murphy is the Yorkshire Regional secretary. He is believed to have been the man Ritchie wanted to eventually hand over the reigns to before he was thrown out of office.

Swain is regional secretary of the union’s largest region in London and the South East.

One union source said: “We really are in ‘you couldn’t make it up’ territory with this one.

“The general secretary gets thrown out but decides to stand again and one of his rivals is taking legal action against the union he wants to lead.”