Barcelona president Joan Laporta is rumoured to be preparing to step down on Thursday after the majority of club members voted against him in a referendum last weekend.

Although Laporta is allowed to stay in his position because club rules state that the vote of no confidence needed to have a two-thirds majority and only 60 per cent voted against him, it means that his situation is now decidedly difficult.

If he does resign then it is likely that a member of the present board will take over until the next elections which are due to take place in 2010.