My contract ends in a few weeks and as yet I've nothing to go to. I've been covering a post for a person on maternity leave who is now back but there's a handover period. I've on the whole enjoyed the work and like the team. The head of department said I was very ably covering the post.

The husband of the substantive postholder was appointed to a job here and I was his manager. He often went home telling tales to his wife but I ignored it.

When I was off for a day there was a managers meeting about staffing and one of my trusted colleagues had a tough time, feeling ganged up on and went to see the head of department. The meeting didn't go well and she was shouted at, with him saying she's made a mess of things and so had I!!

This guy has praised me in the past. I came in at short notice knowing nothing about the job or the department, taking over from someone who did it for 7 years and succeeded, going by the feedback I've had from various sources. I'm a different character to her and have a different management style, and my team members called me a breath of fresh air. They would prefer to keep me as their manager.

It's incredibly disappointing and dismaying therefore to hear this criticism, particularly when there's been ample opportunity to talk to me if there was an issue which there never has been. The returning person has been telling tales, which is uncalled for.

I need to find a new position, and I need to keep positive in the face of this setback. My colleague is very hurt, me, I'm more disappointed in our head of department and the person whose job I've been covering.

Any ideas? Thanks.