David McNarry, a Strangford assembly member and former David Trimble aide, has confirmed he is to contest the leadership of the Ulster Unionist Party.
An extraordinary general meeting of the Ulster Unionist Council in Belfast will choose Mr Trimble's successor on June 24th.
Announcing his candidacy yesterday, Mr McNarry said he wants to "take the party out of denial". He promised to restructure the party to ensure the leadership was in better touch with its elected representatives and with the unionist electorate.
Mr McNarry is a member of the Orange Order and the Loyalist Commission, an umbrella organisation for politicians and loyalist groups. He worked closely with Mr Trimble when the outgoing leader was first minister before Stormont was suspended in October 2002.
He contested the Strangford Westminster constituency in 2001, but lost to the DUP's Iris Robinson by 1,110 votes. He says he will not be holding a presidential-style campaign but will concentrate instead on canvassing among the party's grassroots.
Nominations are still open until one week before the meeting. Already the former Fermanagh-South Tyrone MP Ken Maginnis has said he will run. However, he added he would withdraw if a younger candidate espousing his views stood.
Lord Kilclooney, the former Strangford MP John Taylor, said he is still interested in serving as an interim leader if the party opts to wait until its annual general meeting next spring to choose the new leader.
Sir Reg Empey is expected to confirm his intention to stand before the end of the week. If he does he will be a favourite.
North Down assembly member Alan McFarland may also decide to stand. With his colleague and sitting MP Lady Hermon ruling herself out due to family commitments, he could run with the support of the only constituency that held on to its seats in last month's Westminster and council elections.