They’ve installed Brendan Nelson as leader and now the right wing of the Liberal Party is set to roll federal party president Chris McDiven.

The party’s federal executive is meeting in Canberra tomorrow, and Dr Brendan’s numbers man Nick Minchin has told ABC Radio: “I understand Chris McDiven will indicate her intentions at that meeting and as I understand it she will not be seeking another term as federal president.”

Not that McDiven was ever regarded as particularly effective. Indeed, John Howard probably wanted a cipher in the role.

Things are very different now. The Financial Review has revealed today that Liberal finances are in a mess, with only prudent measures put in place by former party treasurer Ron Walker to stop party officials pawning the silverware preventing worse.

Reports today suggest two Howard government yesterday’s men, Michael Wooldridge and Richard Alston, are being considered as party president. Neither is held in high regard. Both carry a taint of sleaze. Liberals can at least draw some comfort from talk that Michael Kroger could still get the job.

Matters aren’t being helped by instability at the top.

New federal leader Brendan Nelson hasn’t yet been in the job for a fortnight, but a question mark hangs over his legitimacy. Two people who should have been able to vote in the ballot didn’t. Two people who shouldn’t have did.

And why did this all happen? Liberal parliamentary party heavies must have had some contingency plans in place in case John Howard lost his seat.

What they couldn’t have anticipated was Peter Costello taking his bat and ball home the day after the election loss. The Liberals rushed their ballot because of Costello’s little tanty. Costello then chaired the meeting and allowed MPs whose election was unsure to vote.

John Howard may have lead the Liberals into opposition, but it is Peter Costello who has got the party off to the worst possible start.