A new city academy has failed to appoint a new principal for a second time – and now faces being left with no headteacher within months.

The sponsor and board of the Falmer Academy, which is due to replace Falmer High School in September 2010, announced yesterday they had chosen not to appoint any of the candidates interviewed last month.

The news follows three months after a first wave of interviews during which Falmer High's popular headteacher Stuart McLaughlin was snubbed in his bid to lead the academy, to the disappointment of many in the surrounding community in Moulsecoomb, Brighton.

He has since been appointed to takeover as the head of Portslade Community College in September and will leave Falmer in July.

Outsourcing multi-millionaire Rod Aldridge, who will be sponsoring the £26 million Falmer Academy project, defended the decision not to appoint any of the candidates.

He has offered a salary of more than £100,000 to attract a superhead to take the job.

Mr Aldridge said: "We are looking for an outstanding candidate with the skills and experience to lead the transformational change that is necessary."

He said the academy would provide a once in a lifetime opportunity to improve the lives of the young people and the community in the school's catchment, which is one of the most deprived areas of the South East.

Mr Aldridge said: "This appointment is therefore vital and we will continue our search until we find the right person."

He said the recruitment process would restart immediately and he expected to have the principal in place by September 2009.