Former Channel 5 boss David Elstein yesterday took control of struggling film company Civilian Content to end growing internal unease over chairman Richard Thompson.

Mr Thompson, the son of multi-millionaire Hillsdown Holdings founder David Thompson and a former owner of Queens Park Rangers football club, has left the board after agreeing the company's future was better served under Mr Elstein, Civilian said.

The reshuffle coincided with a profit warning and news of further writedowns against film investments that have not paid off for a company backed by £33m of National Lottery money. Shares fell 20% to 28p.

One of the problems was a delay in international receipts from the recently released film 51st State, featuring Robert Carlyle and Samuel L Jackson, left. Mr Thompson has attracted criticism from shareholders after three production companies were closed two years after he sold them to Civilian for £3m. Two - valued at £1m - were set up for £9.50 less than a month earlier.

Mr Elstein, appointed deputy chairman this year, has tried to move Civilian away from high risk film production to lower risk financing and distribution.