It was fully expected the chief executive would end up leaving - but no one though it be after just one week.

So we must draw the conclusion that Mr Hilton had known that his time was up and decided to jump before he was pushed.

Mr Hilton was appointed in the wake of the huge fallout between former council leader Mike Storey and Sir David Henshaw. He was the safe pair of hands to steer ship Liverpool through the tempestuous seas of Capital of Culture and beyond.

Those who have met him attest to the fact he's a nice guy and made a good fist of things in sometimes difficult circumstances. But many felt he lacked the vision to take Liverpool to the next step.

Maybe his critics underestimated what is now an obvious self-awareness. Mr Hilton deserves credit for having seen that he taken Liverpool as far as he can and decided to call it a day.

He has also avoided a potentially long and drawn out debacle as Labour sought to replace him.

Mr Hilton's departure is right for him but more crucially for the city. As there is a new political broom it is right too that there is change at the top of the management.

This will allow Cllr Anderson to appoint a new chief executive in whom he has full confidence and potentially form a dream team to push the city forward.

With the Conservatives likely to wield an axe over the North West Development Agency is its chief executive Steve Broomhead an early contender?