"We need to see steps taken to address either the management or the procedural failures

George Lyon, MSP

Mr Lyon said on Thursday: "We must try and ensure that some of the difficulties over the allegations which were made are addressed.

"The Mackay investigation was set up to look into allegations and I believe that in order to restore confidence in the project we need to see the report published, we need to see steps taken to address either the management or the procedural failures.

"I believe that that is the only way to draw a line under the whole saga and allow this excellent project to come to fruition and become a success.

He said the allegations and bad publicity had caused a "very important" scheme to be side-tracked.

Mr Lyon adds that "many, many people have worked long and hard to bring this vision into reality" and he would not want the scheme to falll at its last hurdles.

Bullying allegations

Mr Duffield resigned following the completion of the Mackay report which was ordered after staff claimed he covered up formal complaints made by them.

In his resignation letter he said he "fundamentally disagreed" with both the way the investigation was carried out and its findings.

The UHI Foundation discussed the independent report on Wednesday.

Staff expressed unhappiness about Mr Duffield's management style and there were allegations of bullying.

It was also claimed that his office covered up complaints of malpractice made by employees.

Mr Mackay did not have the remit to look into the individual allegations, but his findings are thought to be damning.

The staffing row has hampered the development of the collegiate-style university which some critics feel has lost direction.

It is still unable to award its own degrees because of a delay in being designated an educational institution eligible for funding.

The project was awarded �33.35m by the Millennium Commission in 1996 towards the estimated �95m total cost.