Acorn is making itself felt at Torch Computers even before its agreed takeover is finalised.

It has replaced Torch's chairman and managing director Bob Gilkes with Peter O' Keefe, Acorn's sales director, Mr. O' Keefe will combine the job of chief executive at Torch with his existing position at Acorn.

In a statement from Acorn, Mr. O' Keefe said that his first task will be "to give a strong sales-led direction to Torch's management" and "develop Torch's credibility to enable the firm to capture large market shares."

This implied criticism of Torch's existing management may go some way to explaining Mr. Gilkes' departure. In the usual euphemistic language that these kind of statements are couched in, Acorn says that Mr. Gilkes "has resigned to take up other interests in the computer industry."

However, sources close to Torch suggest that Mr. Gilkes was asked to leave after Acorn complained to Newmarket Venture Capital, Torch's current owners.

Acorn was far from pleased with the way that Mr. Gilkes signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Data Technologies to manufacture and market the Graduate IBM-compatible add-on for the BBC Micro. This was in conflict with Acorn's plans in the same direction.

In fact, the Graduate is still experiencing teething problems and the latest design change is the addition of a fan to cope with overheating problems.

Acorn was also unhappy with the way that Torch jumped the gun in announcing the takeover plans before they were complete. Officially: "negotiations are now well advanced for the takeover to be completed".

Mr. O' Keefe's appointment raises more questions than answers as to why Acorn is buying Torch and what it proposes to do with it.

Acorn said in the statement that it expects Torch to provide a "firm platform" for its thrust into the business market. Yet in an exclusive interview with PCN last month (issue 72), Chris Curry, Acorn's chairman, said that the company was going ahead with its plans to launch a range of business machines of its own this Autumn.

With Torch and Acorn offering competing ranges of business micros something will have to give.