SDLP wagons in Derry are circling round party leader Dr Alasdair McDonnell in a bid to topple him.
It is understood four branches in the city have passed resolutions demanding a special leadership conference.
They are supported by branches in both Limavady and Coleraine.
The hawks demanding a change at the top need four more branches to pass the magical number of 10 needed to call a special leadership conference.
An SDLP source told Derry Daily: “Alasdair McDonnell’s days are numbered as leader.
“He failed at the council elections and he failed at the Wesminster elections. He only scraped home by 1,000 votes from the DUP to keep his own seat.
“The Assembly elections are just 11 months away and we need someone at the top to come up fresh pair of eyes to lead us to secure our seats and win more.
“Unfortunately, Alasdair hasn’t delivered on his promises.
“He should go now gracefully before he gets a blood nose.”
Foyle MLA Colum Eastwood has already emerged as a front runner to become the new leader.
Another front runner is south Belfast MLA and former UTV political reporter Ferghal McKinney
If the special leadership conference fails, then the process will be put on hold until the SDLP annual meeting in November.
Dr McDonnell’s days were numbered when senior figures, both present and past, said he should go after the Westminster elections.
One of the most focal was Foyle MP and former party leader Mark Durkan.
A week after the election, he told the BBC’s The View: ”
He told the BBC political programme The View programme: “I think he should go now.”
Mr Durkan added that he should step down as leader and “concentrate his mind on his Westminster business”.
He said that question of the leadership came up “time and again” while he was canvassing in the Foyle constituency.
Mr Durkan told BBC presenter Mark Carruthers: “The leadership needs to change and he needs to fulfill his best role in serving as MP for south Belfast.
“He needs to make a clear decision.
“The people want to see a new leadership going with a strong platform going into the Asssembly elections.
“His leadership was a real issue on the doorstep.
“They were staying away from from voting by politics in general….but a lot were disappointed…and that was put down to the leadership.
“I am not dictating the timetable for this as to when he should or should not go.”
Mr Durkan denied he had any interest of taking over the reins again of the party if Mr McDonnells stepped aside.
However, he said any leadership contest would “invigorating” for the party if and when it came about.
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