Long-time Mid Ocean Club member Michael Dela Hunty, who divides his time between Bermuda and living overseas, has thrown his full support behind Michael Dunkley who has come under fire from some members for his attempt to regain the club presidency at the expense of David Ezekiel.

Dela Hunty, who admitted he had been seeking proxy votes from shareholders in order to secure Dunkley's election at tomorrow's AGM, said he was forced into action in order to "save" the club which he believed had been taken into the wrong direction by the current administration.

And, contrary to some members' claims, he said there was an "absolute groundswell of support for Michael to return as president."

"I've been a member of Mid Ocean for 30 years and a shareholder for 25 years and I absolutely adore this club," he said.

"The whole world is changing and Bermuda slower than most, but unfortunately during the last two to four years, things at Mid Ocean have not been going well.

"I'm saying this because I care.

"There are a number of things which I have not been happy with. A beach pavilion was built for $4 million when there were other priorities . . . some of the staff have been living in squalid conditions.

"I have a lot of respect, even affection for Shirley (president Shirley James) . . . but she's being bullied by the young Turks."

Dela Hunty said at the club's last AGM he was incensed by the way matters had been handled after which he took it upon himself to help instigate changes.

"They couldn't even get the accounts in order, the AGM had to be adjourned," he continued.

He said that what he, Dunkley and other members had done since, to garner the support of shareholders in order to implement change at this week's AGM, had never been conducted in an underhand manner.

With some 80 shareholders given their proxies, it's almost guaranteed that Dunkley will be elected and the Board changed when the votes are counted tomorrow night.

"There have not been any shenanigans. Both myself and Michael have been completely open with Shirley regarding the proxy votes.

"I have the utmost respect for David (Ezekiel) who I've known for many years. I have the highest respect for what he has achieved in his business career . . . but I do have reservations about the way he might run the club."