Senior SNP figures reportedly held a secret meeting on Monday to discuss ousting party leader John Swinney following its defeat in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election.
According to The Herald, John Swinney faces a leadership challenge at the SNP conference in October if he fails to come up with a new strategy on independence in the next two weeks.
It is understood the meeting was about moving forward on independence after it was decided the First Minster “has no intention of putting independence anywhere near the party's narrative whatsoever.”
One source said: “If there is nothing in the next couple of weeks from the leadership, then conference will be a bloodbath.”
The news comes after it was reported that John Swinney will be looking at reshuffling his cabinet. The Herald reports that the SNP was still in "a process of recovery" following their by-election defeat.
Asked if he would be having an emergency reshuffle, Mr Swinney said: “Obviously, I’ve got a cabinet minister coming back from maternity leave so I have to look at the team. I’ll be doing that in due course.”