The one-time student of Ulster Unionist Party leader Mr David Trimble who is to challenge his former law lecturer for the leadership of the Ulster Unionist Party next Saturday said yesterday he believed there was a huge demand within the party for a leadership change.
Mr David Hoey (42), has described himself as an ordinary member of the party, and added that the term "stalking horse" which has been attached to his declaration was not one used by him, even though he confirmed that if elected leader he would step aside "for someone who will unite the party".
A keen sportsman, who plays squash, hockey and chess, he is a law graduate of Queen's University, Belfast, where Mr Trimble was one of his lecturers.
"I am not naming names in terms of who my preferred leader would be. Although I am not a delegate to next Saturday's meeting of the Ulster Unionist Council, there is nothing in the rules to stop me from standing.
"My intention is to clear the way, stand aside, for someone else.
"I have talked to a great many people over the past few weeks, and there has been, from what I can detect, a huge demand for change within the party, and I guess someone has to make that challenge for change and clear the way for a leadership that will unite the party, that will regain confidence with the electorate and sort out the party internally.
"I have not been asked by anybody to go forward. I have talked with people across the Ulster Unionist Party family, and frankly if all the people who have said they want change, and if all the people who have talked to those people, if they all turn up next Saturday, there will be a change in the leadership of the party.
"I think it is possible that the UUC will have the confidence and courage to say it's time for change, and that I will be the leader of the party, albeit for a very short time.
"I haven't used the term stalking horse. I am making a challenge for change, and then I will clear the way.
"It is for others then to take the challenge for change forward in another leadership election.
"I would like to clear the way for someone who will unite the party, regain the confidence of the electorate and who will get the party organisation back in order.
"I believe that the Ulster Unionist Party has to decide whether it wants to manage change or whether it wants to manage decline.We have a disunited party and quite frankly the party is in a mess.
"I have no political career to offer. I am an ordinary member of the Ulster Unionist Party and I believe that after next Saturday I will still be an ordinary member of the party," he said.