Horton and president George Cook be booted out of their jobs.

And they said they had acted because the college was "in crisis'' and suffering from a lack of leadership, plummeting morale and spiralling debt -- said to total $1.8 million.

Laverne Furbert, spokeswoman for the rebels, did not rule out further action if things at the college did not change.

She said: "The buck stops at the top, the president and the chairman of the board.

`College in crisis' "If something went wrong in my household when I had young children, it was me. I had to take responsibility.

"We have talked. We have tried to talk. We've done everything. We feel this is the only way to get some action.'' But last night the under-fire college chiefs were standing firm and said they had no intention of quitting.

Ms Furbert was speaking as a group of around 40 handed over a petition demanding the top two quit by today and listing a host of complaints over how the college is being run.

She said: "We're asking for the president and the chairman of the board to resign. We've not asked for the resignation of any other members.'' But she added the rebels had not asked for controversial vice-president Donald Peters and chief financial officer Barbara Green to be fired because both were from overseas on contracts and set to leave in the near future.

Ms Furbert claimed that the resignation call was supported by the majority of staff, including academics, and students.

She said: "There are some people who are not in agreement as you would expect, but I think it's representative of the majority of the students, faculty and staff of Bermuda College.'' The petition said: "We stand before you here today because we care about the future of Bermuda College and the current and future students and employees that will pass through its doors.'' The petition claimed the college board had failed to chart a course for the college, lacked management experience and "demonstrated poor fiscal management, thereby leading the college and the Stonington Beach Hotel into a fiscal crisis unheard of in the history of the institution''.

And it added that the board had failed to support the development of Bermudians and had not tackled the college's declining enrolment.

Complaints about Mr. Horton, appointed just over a year ago, included alleged "failure to: Provide any solutions to this financial crisis; Address the issue of low morale and lack of effective leadership -- since his appointment, over 14 members of staff and faculty have resigned; Consider the recommendations of his senior administrative staff to terminate unnecessary high-salaried staff thereby reducing the college deficit and improving morale; and Respond, either in writing or orally, to communications addressed to him by staff, faculty and/or students.'' Charges listed against Dr. Cook included a failure to develop a comprehensive training and succession plan for both academic and non-academic staff, poor planning, ignoring complaints from staff and students and not taking major concerns to the Board of Governors.

Ms Furbert said the protest was sparked following a "state of the college address'' last week, which she said had not answered serious concerns raised by staff and students.

By Tony Cordeiro Laying down the law: Students and staff at Bermuda College present a petition calling for the sacking of board chairman Randy Horton and college president George Cook.