Proxy firms ISS and Ownership Matters have largely backed Ardent Leisure's board in its scrap with activist shareholder Ariadne, by recommending against the election of Ariadne director Gary Weiss at a crucial meeting next month.

While 10.9 per cent shareholder Ariadne last week withdrew three resolutions it will put to shareholders at an extraordinary meeting it has called Monday week, it is still pushing for the election of Dr Weiss and US-based Brad Richmond to the board of the challenged leisure company.