possibly because of the extremely edgy nature of the early 1990s, many senior staffers objected to willers's easygoing management style and this led to internal dissent against the editor in august 1993. the challenge backfired on those who had participated and the ringleaders were compelled to find employment elsewhere. willers was given the opportunity to restore confidence in his editorship and there were those on the paper who, while recognising the editor's faults in matters of organisation, appreciated the warm, supportive environment he created. willers resigned from the paper in october 1994 to take up a post in london with the south african sugar association.