Fire chief retires on £250,000 but is rehired days later for £100,000

When Patrick Corcoran, an assistant county fire officer, retired earlier this month after reaching the age of 55, it was claimed there was no one suitable in the fire service to replace him.

So Greater Manchester Fire Service decided to give Mr Corcoran, who has a gold-plated pension pot of around £1million, his job back on a fixed-term contract of 11 months, paying him his old wage while they find a suitable replacement.

Last night, firefighters and union bosses were united in condemnation of the move, asking why the vacancy was not advertised.

Kevin Brown, of the Fire Brigades' Union, said: "Surely Mr Corcoran's retirement date will not have come as a surprise to the management.

"Greater Manchester Fire Service used to be one of the top-performing brigades in the country. I am sure that there would not have been a shortage of potential candidates.

"Clearly this deal must have been heard by the Labour-controlled Fire Authority and has been thrashed out behind closed doors.

"You have to question whether it is the best use of financial resources."

Mr Corcoran has responsibility for brigade performance and his brief includes discipline, sickness and personnel issues.

Mr Brown added: "There are a number of middle management highly specialised jobs like chemical and hazardous material officers, who would be very difficult to replace, and you could argue that in certain circumstances it might be appropriate to re-engage them.

"But Mr Corcoran has a bureaucratic job and I am sure that a replacement could be recruited for it."

One fireman said: "Mr Corcoran gets his lump sum and a very handsome-wage simply for continuing doing the job he was doing. It hardly looks like an open and transparent situation.

"Surely the position should have been advertised and applicants interviewed for the post."

The Firefighters' Pension Scheme is one of the highest-paying in the UK, and Mr Corcoran would have paid in at least 11 per cent of his salary, matched by his employer's contribution.

As well as the lump sum, Mr Corcoran is entitled to a brigade pension estimated at about £45,000 a year.

However, while he is working on contract he will not be able to draw it.

County fire officer Barry Dixon said: "This decision was based on sound business reasoning providing stability to the senior management team whilst we continue making positive changes and move forward with succession planning."