WCB supplier and shareholder Andrew Anderson called for Mr Karpin to resign, labelling Mr Kearney as a scapegoat for a decision to cut farmers' milk price by 15 cents to help fund the proposed $105 million Australian Cheese Company joint venture.

The price cut was subsequently reversed as WCB farmers switched to other companies.

"Karpin was the executive chairman - he is responsible just as much as the managers were," Mr Anderson said.

"He didn't act in isolation and he has no appreciation of the farmers' situation.

"If he (Karpin) had any understanding of it he would never have allowed the thing to have happened - he needs to go."

Mr Anderson said the WCB chairman and chief executive officer were both responsible.

"This was no mere hiccup - this was a major problem of policy," he said.

"The chairman is just as guilty as the CEO. The board should move on the chairman and replace him."

Mr Anderson said WCB was a great company and its current troubles were "a temporary aberration". He supported the involvement of former chief executive officer John McLean "to do the repair work".

WCB supplier Dick Prendergast said Mr Karpin had "talked down" to farmers and never understood their mentality.

He said a meeting of farmers at Cobden last week was told Mr Karpin and the board acted on a recommendation from management to cut farmers' milk price.

Mr Kearney claimed responsibility for the decision, he said, "but the chairman is the one that has really got the hands on the reins."

WCB supplier Chris Porter also said Mr Kearney was being made a scapegoat and Mr Karpin should resign.

He said he could still leave the company, depending on what happened with its opening price.

WCB supplier Stewart Wines said all board positions, including Mr Karpin's, should be up for review.

Mr Karpin would not discuss how the initial milk price-cut decision was made or the reasons for Mr Kearney "choosing" to resign.

On the calls for his departure, Mr Karpin said: "My view is that I and the other members of the board are putting their best efforts forward to advance the cause of the company.

"It is understandable that emotions are running high - our job is to get on with the business of the company in the interests of all our stakeholders, particularly the suppliers," he said.