Sainsbury’s finance director, Roger Matthews, has become the latest senior figure to walk away from the troubled retailer.

The news takes the number of resignations on the supermarket’s operational board to eight out of 12 since Justin King took over as chief executive, replacing Sir Peter Davis.

Matthews’ resignation was greeted with surprise by some City watchers, and the move will certainly add to the pressure on King who is shortly due to unveil his plans to turn the retailer around.

Sainsbury’s denied rumours that Matthews, who will stay on until early March, had clashed with new chairman Philip Hampton, and said the finance chief has said he simply wanted to do other things.

His departure leaves just three non-executives on the board from the reign of Sir Peter.

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