SHAREHOLDERS of Darlington’s Auction Mart will meet tomorrow to discuss whether to remove the former managing director from the board, The Northern Echo understands.

An investigation into the mart, which is in Clifton Road, is being carried out by police over allegations of financial irregularities.

Managing director Andy Armstrong left the company earlier this year following an internal investigation.

It is understood that despite the fact he has left, he has not resigned as a director and the only way he can be removed from the board is by a shareholder vote.

Paul Allison, chairman of Darlington Farmers Auction Mart, would not confirm if the item was on the agenda and said it was a matter for shareholders.

“The shareholders were sent out a notice of the motions on the agenda,” he said. “It is really only for me to tell shareholders what is on there.”

He said progress was ongoing on the new mart building at Humbleton, near Burtree, on the outskirts of Darlington, which will replace the current mart on Clifton Road, near the centre of town.

The new development is expected to be complete by May next year.

A spokeswoman for Durham Constabulary said a police investigation into alleged financial irregularities was ongoing.

It is understood the inquiry is more wide-ranging than first thought.

Mr Allison refused to say in September whether Mr Armstrong had left by mutual agreement or had been sacked.

Shareholders and mart customers remain in the dark about the nature of the alleged “financial irregularities”.

Mr Armstrong was initially suspended from his position as senior auctioneer and managing director of the company in July.

In August, almost the entire board of directors stepped down, with only Mr Armstrong and financial director Richard Heseltine remaining, while Mr Allison replaced Tony Ward as the chairman.

Mr Heseltine is still listed as a director of the business on Companies House, and will remain the only director from before July still sitting on the board.