S4C chairman Rhodri Williams doesn't want second term

The boss of a scandal-hit TV channel has said he does not want a second term in charge.

S4C chairman Rhodri Williams has written to the UK government asking not to be considered for the position.

The crisis-hit Welsh language channel has seen two senior officers fired amid allegations of bullying.

Mr Williams said he had "never seen a senior executive act" the way Llinos Griffin-Williams did. She denies the allegations and is taking legal action.

In his first interview since launching the investigation into allegations in May, Mr Williams - whose tenure as chairman ends on 1 April - dismissed suggestions he should resign.

He said: "The past year has been the toughest year S4C has ever had.

"We were put in a difficult situation. We received a letter from the BECTU union raising serious concerns about the behaviour of some members of the management team."

Mr Williams told S4C's Newyddion, external programme he was content with the way the board unanimously dealt with the situation.

"I think it was right to appoint an external and independent company to investigate. And after hearing from them, we had no choice [but to sack the former chief executive].

"I think the board and myself as chair have acted properly and in the interests of S4C staff and the establishment as a whole."

Last week, Mr Williams appeared before committees at Westminster and the Senedd.

Following those sessions, politicians from the both committees wrote to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), which oversees S4C, calling for a new chairman to be appointed.

Mr Williams hit back at the politicians, saying he was worried "where they concentrated their questions".

He added: "The focus wasn't on the centre of this story, which, in my opinion, is how staff have been treated by the leadership. They are the people who should be scrutinised."

Chairman of the Welsh Affairs Committee in Westminster, Stephen Crabb, accused Mr Williams of acting as "judge, jury and executioner, using [legal firm] Capital Law as cover".

Mr Williams said "I don't think Stephen Crabb has read the Capital Law report, external... and what the report said about how the former chief executive treated her staff".

He called the accusation "completely groundless", saying all decisions were taken unanimously by the board.

Mr Crabb gave no response when approached for a comment.

When asked why he took the unilateral decision to sack the channel's former chief content officer Ms Griffin-Williams, after she allegedly abused former Wales rugby player Mike Phillips, Mr Williams said he'd acted "on legal advice".

He added: "It was clear the behaviour was gross misconduct. It was act quickly and protect S4C's reputation and show an institution like S4C wouldn't allow one of their chief officers to behave in such a way."

In November, former chief executive Sian Doyle was also sacked after the board received a report compiled by Capital Law.

A summary of that report was published and described a "culture of fear" at the channel.

Ms Doyle has said she "does not recognise nor accept" the report's contents.

Asked why neither Ms Doyle nor Ms Griffin-Williams were granted an appeal, Mr Williams said the processes governing what happens in circumstances such as these were "set out in their contracts and in employment law".

He added: "I don't see there would have been any benefit in behaving differently to what's outlined in contracts and what is appropriate for a public body take when it becomes aware of the type of behaviour outlined clearly and emotionally in the Capital Law report."

The DCMS urged the board to put plans in place to address "serious issues of culture, management and policies" and said it would launch the process to appoint Mr Williams' replacement.

The S4C board said: "We have received and noted the secretary of state's comments in her letter following the chairman's decision not to propose his name for a second term.

"We will update the DCMS and the secretary of state regarding the details as soon as possible."