Monday, 11 February 2008

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Britney's manager on way out, attorney wants to quit

Star faces more let down

In a shake-up, Britney Spears' business manager is close to being fired and her divorce attorney has asked the court for permission to drop her as a client.

Howard Grossman, the business manager, tells PEOPLE he is aware he was the subject of a closed-door hearing Thursday but he has no idea why a temporary conservator's motion to give Spears's father the right to fire him was granted.

Court papers show that Grossman was served Thursday with orders to surrender "all documents, records and assets relating to Britney Spears."

"The only thing I will say is my reputation speaks for itself," Grossman says. "I couldn't tell you why they chose this path."

Also, divorce lawyer Sorrell Trope tells PEOPLE he filed papers Friday asking permission to be released as Spears's attorney in her custody battle with Kevin Federline.

A hearing will be held on the matter on March 10. The high-profile divorce attorney had filed similar papers several weeks ago, but retracted them.

"We filed paper asking to be relieved, and hopefully they will find someone to replace us," Trope tells PEOPLE. "I'm not at liberty to say more at this time."

Howard Breuer