SAC had previously supported both Mr Fergusson and former councillor Patricia Mason, but Mrs Mason decided to withdraw from the mayoral race, instead heading the ticket in ward one.

Announcing the move, Mr Fergusson responded to critics who had suggested councillors serve an apprenticeship before making a bid for the top job.

“Comments like this are either scare tactics or ill-informed,” he said.

“If an apprenticeship was the basis of assessing competence, how is it we have such a poorly conducted council now?

“Bad behaviour is tolerated, decisions contrary to professional advice are made and community opinion ignored, seemingly to favour preferred parties.”

Mr Fergusson said respect for meeting conduct, regard for policy and staff advice and listening to the community were more important than “sullied, so-called experience”.