The first female Oxford Professor of Poetry has resigned following her involvement in an alleged smear campaign against a former rival.
Ruth Padel, a great-great granddaughter of Charles Darwin, insisted she had "acted in good faith" and had done "nothing intentional" to lead her rival Derek Walcott to withdraw from the election.
Oxford University sources said a new election would now be held.
Walcott, who had been the leading candidate for the job which is regarded as one of the most influential in UK poetry behind that of the laureateship, withdrew from the race following an anonymous letter campaign against him.
On Monday, Professor Padel said: "I genuinely believe that I did nothing intentional that led to Derek Walcott's withdrawal from the election. I wish he had not pulled out.
"I did not engage in a smear campaign against him, but, as a result of student concern, I naively - and with hindsight unwisely - passed on to two journalists, whom I believed to be covering the whole election responsibly, information that was already in the public domain."
She went on: "I acted in complete good faith, and would have been happy to lose to Derek, but I can see that people might interpret my actions otherwise.
"I wish to do what is best for the University and I understand that opinion there is divided.
"I therefore resign from the Chair of Poetry. I hope wounds will now heal and I wish the next professor all the best."
She said she would make a full statement in person at The Hay Festival of Literature on Tuesday.
