The clock is ticking to find a new headteacher for one of Brighton's biggest schools before the start of the new academic year.

Governors at the troubled East Brighton College of Media Arts have failed to find a new principal since Dr Jill Clough quit through ill health. Despite advertising the £72,000-a-year post, none of the candidates interviewed so far have come up to scratch.

But governors have dismissed fears the school would be without a permanent headteacher at the start of the new school year in September.

Chairman of governors Derek Boune said: "We did hold interviews for the post of principal but we decided not to appoint any of the candidates we saw. We shall probably be readvertising and there is no reason why we should not appoint someone before September if the person is already a deputy head. It would only apply if the person was already a headteacher because they would have to give a longer period of notice."

Acting headteacher Jenny Pick has been covering for Dr Clough since she went on long-term sick leave but Mr Boune could not say whether she would continue to cover until a permanent replacement was found.

Governors are due to meet on May 13 to discuss the next step in the recruitment process. Mr Boune added: "I don't want to speculate because it would be dangerous and absurd."

Dr Clough was credited with turning round the school's fortunes. It was one of three schools in Sussex to be taken out of special measures by the Government education watchdog Ofsted last year, when Dr Clough was praised for her tough approach.

But it was recently listed as having one of the worst truancy rates in the country.

Dr Clough has been absent from the school in Wilson Avenue, Whitehawk, Brigh-ton, since the end of last term.

A recent advertisement in the Times Educational Supplement offered a salary of between £62,535 and £72,000.

The college is the subject of a £27 million private finance initiative to provide new facilities.