One of the world’s most renowned literary theorists, Terry Eagleton, is facing the ignominy of mandatory retirement from his post at the English department of Manchester University, it has been revealed.

Professor Eagleton, whose 1983 work Literary Theory: an Introduction is widely studied and considered foundational to the school Marxist of literary criticism, turns 65 in July – “the normal contractual retirement age,” according to a university spokesperson.

Despite his acclaim, speculation abounds that he will not be offered any further role at Manchester, which is facing staff cuts totalling 650 positions in an effort to reduce its £30 million debt.

Professor Eagleton has been embroiled in a virulent intellectual and at times personal debate with fellow Manchester University lecturer and celebrated novelist Martin Amis. Eagleton has attacked Amis for a piece that appeared in the G2 supplement to the Guardian last year, in which Mr Amis suggested that the Muslim community in Britain should be treated with suspicion “until it gets its house in order.”

A lively exchange of views has seen Eagleton write that the novelist is “with the dogs,” while Amis has appeared on Channel 4 News asking his colleague to “shut up about it.”

Mr Amis is currently paid a salary of roughly £80, 000 per annum for his role as Professor of Creative Writing, a post which involves 28 hours of teaching per year, according to the Guardian Unlimited website.

Fellow academics across the United Kingdom have voiced their dismay at the latest chapter in the spat. Calling him “the best internationally known literary critic this country currently can boast,” former professor of English Literature at University College London John Sutherland has lamented a decision he considers “wholly account driven."

He said: “America’s greatest Marxist literary critic, Frederic Jameson, is still very much in harness at Duke [University]. The notion of throwing him overboard would seem very strange.”

Professor Randall Stevenson, Head of English Literature and recently named ‘Chair of 20^th Century Literature’ at Edinburgh University, told The Journal he “definitely feels sympathy for Eagleton.”

Stating that he has been following the dispute between Amis and Eagleton, he reflected that “it wasn’t doing anyone any good,” adding that the literary theorist was one of the “most influential and distinguished figures of his generation.”

UK age discrimination law allows employees to ask for a continuation of work past the age of retirement, but does not oblige employers to respect their wishes in all cases.