The former chief exec of BT, Sir Peter Bonfield, never had a future at BT, according to chairman Sir Christopher Bland.

Bonfield announced in October 2001 that he would step down early at the end of January 2002.

Which is just as well. In an interview this weekend Bland said that he drew-up a "To Do" list just after he joined the company last year from the BBC.

Among the ten items on his list was a Rights Issue, an idea to demerge BT's wireless business, a bid to reshape the Board, and ... oh yes, the appointment of a new chief exec.

Bland told the Sunday Telegraph: "That was something that was always going to happen."

Bonfield was heavily critcised for the way he ran BT during the period it ran up massive debts. He has since been replaced by Ben Verwaayen.

Elsewhere, Bland said he is committed to broadband and also pooh-poohed suggestions that BT might split its network suggesting that it could end up like Railtrack.

Said Bland: "...right now the separation of retail and wholesale doesn't seem a good idea." ®