Groupon's executive chairman Eric Lefkofsky and vice chairman Ted Leonsis are stepping in as temporary joint chief executives until a replacement for Mr Mason can be found.

BBC: Groupon shares rebound after founder is sacked

Mr Lefkofsky and Ted Leonsis were named as temporary joint chief executives at the end of February when founder Andrew Mason was ousted after the group posted another quarterly loss.

BBC: Groupon results better than expected

Leaders were considering moving the launch of the ESM forward to July 2012 and allowing the temporary EFSF to exist alongside the permanent facility, thus building up their joint firepower.

FORBES: EU Summit: Parallel Bailout Funds, Sanctions, And Money For The IMF

The ministers are meeting 10 days after their heads of government agreed to use the bloc's temporary bailout funds to recapitalize Spain's ailing financial system and to set up a joint supervisory body for the area's lenders.

CNN: Spain may get extra year to meet targets

The ministers from the 17-nation bloc met 10 days after their heads of government agreed to use its temporary bailout funds to recapitalize Spain's ailing financial system and to set up a joint supervisory body for the area's lenders.

CNN: Eurozone ministers agree bailout for ailing Spanish banks

However, the latest statement from Mr Hardwick said further discussions had led to a joint agreement that "the best interests of Lincolnshire Police would be served by Neil Rhodes continuing as Temporary Chief Constable".

BBC: Lincolnshire