Up to six candidates could contest the Ulster Unionist leadership when the party meets next month to elect David Trimble's successor.
Speaking after a meeting of the UUP's 100-strong Executive yesterday, senior party sources said they hoped an agreed candidate could emerge to prevent further in-fighting.
However, they admitted that two candidates – UUP Assembly member, Sir Reg Empey, and Lord Kilclooney (John Taylor) – were likely to stand. Lady Sylvia Hermon, the party's only remaining MP, has voiced her interest.
Other possible contenders include leading Orangeman, David McNarry, Lord Maginnis, and the UUP's unsuccessful Lagan Valley candidate, Basil McCrea. David Trimble delivered an emotional five-minute address to yesterday's meeting and then left.
The party's ruling body, the 850-member Ulster Unionist Council, will gather in Belfast on June 23rd to elect a new leader. Until then a triumvirate of Sir Reg, Lady Sylvia, and party president Lord Rogan, will act as a caretaker leadership.
They will represent the party in any meetings with the Northern Secretary, Peter Hain, and other British or Irish officials.
A crucial meeting will take place in coming weeks before the leadership contest. All UUP elected representatives – its MEP, Jim Nicholson, Lady Sylvia, Assembly members and councillors – will discuss the party's poor electoral performance and plan a way forward.
The UUP lost all four Westminster and 40 council seats in the elections. A source said: "This will be a vital meeting. There will be a no-holes barred discussion on our abysmal performance. The lack of an inquisition after poor election results in the past was disastrous.
"We were like a football team, relegated season after season, plummeting down through the leagues, but without ever questioning tactics. We need to urgently change our policies." It is hoped several possible leadership contenders could be talked out of running at this meeting.
Lord Kilclooney, the party's former deputy leader, is understood to have sent a letter to senior party members saying he is willing to be leader until the party's AGM in March.
However one source said: "John's saying he would stay about 10 months, if he did a good job and stabilised the party, he could be there 10 years." Former anti-Agreement South Antrim MP David Burnside, is supporting him.
Burnside opposes Lady Sylvia's possible candidacy. He said she didn't "have presence" in the House of Commons and would take the party in a "softy, wishy-washy" route which would alienate voters.
