Brian Lenihan supporters today demanded he finally spring the plot to ensure Brian Cowen's speedy exit.

The Taoiseach's admission he wants to lead Fianna Fail into the election put massive pressure on the Finance Minister to overthrow his leader.

The party fears wipeout under Mr Cowen and believes it can only be saved under a new leader.

Today there was intense manoeuvring behind the scenes as Mr Lenihan decided when to strike.

The Taoiseach himself meanwhile wants to be replaced by Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin.

Mary Hanafin could be a compromise candidate.

Speculation about a heave grew last night when Brian Lenihan said “serious mistakes” had been made in the Department of Finance – then run by Mr Cowen – before he took over.

Mr Cowen, meanwhile, was forcing an all-out revolt by declaring: “I'm leading the party, I'm leading it into the election.” But Lenihan supporters know that declaring their hand now may just hand the leadership over to Mr Cowen’s preferred successor, Micheal Martin or compromise candidate Mary Hanafin.

As the crisis deepened today, the Taoiseach denied any deal with Mr Martin to cede leadership after an election.

He denied he was “clinging on to anything” and warned rebels that if they want to oust him they will have to start a damaging heave. “I am leader of the party. If there are people in the party who want to test that democratic mandate they know what the procedures are.”

Dail observers noted yesterday that the two Brians were struggling to hide their growing divisions. Defending his own credentials after the Budget, Mr Lenihan blamed decisions from the Finance tenures of Charlie McCreevy and Mr Cowen.

“I faced an extraordinary financial crisis in this country. No finance minister since the foundation of the State has had an equivalent crisis,” he said.

The Herald understands that supporters of Mr Lenihan want him to offer Mr Cowen the opportunity to walk away but say the Minister must “act decisively” if he insists on staying.

“The Taoiseach doesn't want to quit because that would be seen as an admission of guilt,” said one TD backing Mr Cowen.

One backbencher said Mr Lenihan should “push and then shove” until Mr Cowen agrees to at least hand over the FF leadership. But it is understood that the Dublin TD wants to wait until the Christmas break.

- Kevin Doyle, POLITICAL REPORTER