THE contest to become the new leader of Glasgow City Council has become a two horse race.

When nominations closed, only Frank McAveety and Malcolm Cunning were in the running for the top job.

Newlands/Auldburn councillor Stephen Curran and deputy council leader Archie Graham were also thought to be interested in the leading the council into the next local government elections in May 2017.

But Mr Curran decided to withdraw after talking to colleagues and Mr Graham decided to step aside.

The leadership contest is the result of present leader Gordon Matheson announcing he will step down at the council meeting next week.

That will allow his predecessor a long run in time to the 2017 elections.

On Wednesday, members of the 45 strong Labour group on the council will decide who will become the new group leader and the following day the winning candidate will get enough votes to become council leader - Labour has an overall majority on the council.

Mr McAveety, 53, was brought up in Springburn and educated at All Saints Secondary, followed by Strathclyde University from which he graduated in 1983, with a BA in English and history.

He went on to qualify as a teacher and taught English at schools across the South Side and East End.

Mr McAveety served on Glasgow District Council from 1988 until 1996 and was city council leader from 1997 until 1999 when he was elected to the Scottish Parliament.

He lost his seat to the SNP in 2011 but the following year was elected to represent Shettleston on the city council.

Mr Cunning, who was born in Fife and raised in the North East of Scotland, qualified as a teacher and worked at a number of universities as manager of student services.

He moved to Glasgow 14 years ago and from 2003 until 2007 was a city councillor for the old Strathbungo ward. He lost his seat at the 2007 election but was returned in 2012 as one of the Labour candidates for the Linn ward.

Mr Cunning is currently executive member for health and social care, is the Veterans’ Champion for the council and is a non-executive director of Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board.

Councillor James Adams, Labour's business manager said: "Councillor Cunning and Councillor McAveety are both very strong candidates and it is now up to the Labour Group when they meet next week to decide who they want to become the new Labour Leader."