The trust is one of Bradford's biggest employers

John Ryan was sacked on Tuesday from his job as head of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust amid forecasts of a deficit of over �11m.

An interim chairman was appointed after the regulator, Monitor, used its powers for the first time.

It is not yet clear whether the board will mount a legal challenge.

But the vote, taken on Tuesday night, meant the board intended to effectively defy the regulator's decision, said BBC health correspondent Karen Allen.

They insisted that Mr Ryan, who had achieved top performance ratings for the hospital over several years, should not be forced to leave, she said.

The board plans to write to Monitor requesting its chairman visit Bradford to explain the reasons behind the decision.

These are very strong criticisms that are being made of Bradford. Sue Slipman Foundation Trust Network

Estimates suggested the trust would run up �11.3m of debts this financial year.

The trust realised it was running into financial trouble in April but, according to Monitor, did not respond fast enough and lacked a "strategic vision" of how to resolve the crisis.

Peter Garland, a former NHS regional director in the north of England, has been appointed as the trust's interim chairman.

Monitor's chairman, William Moyes, said: "We have concluded that the range of challenges facing the trust requires a change in leadership."

Sue Slipman, director of the Foundation Trust Network, which represents all the NHS trusts granted foundation status, said Bradford was not the only trust to have difficulties and that others had agreed plans with the regulator to boost their performance.

'Recovery plan'

It had proved difficult for trusts to make the transition to running their own affairs after being used to following centralised orders, she said.

She added: "Bradford is clearly an extreme case and Monitor has taken very strong action.

"What we all hope is that we can concentrate and focus around a robust recovery plan for Bradford and bring them back within the terms of their authorisation as rapidly as possible."

Foundation trusts have been one of the major elements of the Labour government's NHS reforms.

They enjoy greater financial freedoms, but, unlike standard trusts, they cannot turn to health authorities to bail them out if they run into trouble.

The Bradford trust runs Bradford Royal Infirmary and its other main hospital St Luke's, and employs 3,600 staff.

Paul Burstow MP, Liberal Democrat health spokesman, criticised the "half-hearted" foundation hospital experiment.

He said: "The government's foundation plans have failed to deliver the freedom and flexibility needed to let NHS staff innovate and get on with the job of treating patients."