MORE than a third of senior Merseytravel managers will lose their jobs in a major shake-up prompted by the resignation of its former chairman.

Transport chiefs are due this week to approve plans for a restructure which will see the number of top-flight posts reduced from 49 to 30.

The changes were recommended in a review of the running of the publicly-funded body – responsible for Merseyside’s rail, bus and tunnel networks – after ex-chairman Cllr Mark Dowd stepped down.

His move followed revelations of a "dossier" highlighting concerns about the way the organisation was being run, including fears over potential breaches of contract law.

Cllr Dowd’s alleged failure to take the contents of the dossier seriously led to his forced resignation in June 2012.

While Merseytravel sources said the review did not "directly follow on from the dossier" they said it was intended to improve "the way the place was run".

As well as streamlining the management structure the changes will save around £687,000 a year.

But present Merseystravel chairman Cllr Liam Robinson said this was "not the only driver" behind the changes.

The report to go before the passenger transport authority on Thursday states that "the review recommended that a management restructure should take place, with every post outside the core being ‘re-justified’."

It continues that while money will be saved "the full financial effects of the restructure will not be apparent until all service reviews have been completed.

It is clear, however, that this exercise will contribute to the overall achievement of significant savings in employee costs across the organisation".

Cllr Robinson, who commissioned the review, said: "The next stage of the management restructuring programme is part of our overall review of the way we work.

"The review made recommendations about our management structure, and we have put some of those recommendations in place, having already reorganised director and head of service posts. This is now the next stage of making sure we have an organisation which is more streamlined, and equipped to deliver the corporate plan in an efficient and cost effective manner.

"While there will be savings in some areas, this is not the only driver behind the restructuring.

"The aim is simply to have an appropriate structure to deliver a world class integrated transport service for the city region."

Liverpool council Liberal Democrat group leader and transport spokesman Cllr Richard Kemp said: "This is long overdue.

"They need to shorten the management lines and change the way things are done, as well as change who does them.

"But if it doesn’t achieve that then it could just be a case of playing musical chairs."