THE city council's deputy leader has spoken of his great "love" for Worcester - positioning himself to potentially take over the top job.

Worcester City Council is expected to be looking for a new Conservative leader imminently, with its current boss Simon Geraghty odds-on to take over the running of County Hall.

If Councillor Geraghty can secure the position at Worcestershire County Council it will result in the first Tory leadership jockeying at the Guildhall in a decade, when ex-leader Stephen Inman quit.

Councillor Bayliss, a former Labour politician who dumped the party after a dispute over using all-women shortlists for parliamentary candidates, is the city council's second-in-command, leaving him in pole position if and when a vacancy arises.

He said: "I'm very happy to be a deputy leader and (leading the city council) is not something I have yearned for.

"But if there was a vacancy, I'd want to be considered for it - I'd be interested in putting my name forward if that happens.

"I love the city, I love Worcester and that would be a huge honour, it's certainly something I'd want to consider."

He also said a lot of “chickens need to be hatched” before he could consider it properly.

He has also given his own endorsement to Councillor Geraghty, who is widely expected to stand unopposed to lead the county council this month.

The 39-year-old, who has led the city council for nine of the last 10 years, wants to take over the vacancy left behind from Councillor Adrian Hardman, who is quitting after being arrested and charged with drink driving.

Councillor Bayliss said: "Will I be spoiling anyone's party, no of course I won't be doing that - I'll be supporting Simon to be the new leader.

"He's done a fantastic job leading the city council for nearly 10 years, he's undoubtedly the right man for the job (running the county council)."

The county council's Conservatives will hold a secret ballot on Friday, January 8 to determine its new group leader, with Councillor Geraghty facing no opposition from the rest of the current senior leadership.

That means unless an opponent emerges from the Tory backbenches, he will land the position.

The new group leader will then go forward for a vote at full council on Thursday, January 14 to take over the running of County Hall.

In the event of Councillor Geraghty securing the role, he is then expected to stand down as city council leader.

Councillor Hardman is appearing at Cheltenham Magistrates Court on Monday, January 18 and has already said he will plead guilty, calling his actions a "gross misjudgement".