Wilko Bolton: 'Everything must go' at town centre store

The chain shocked customers and staff alike earlier this month when it announced that it was going into administration.

The deadline for rescue bids has now passed and posters have appeared at Wilko’s Deansgate branch advertising an “administration sale”, while political representatives have called for more clarity about the future for shopworkers.

Bolton South East MP Yasmin Qureshi said: “There needs to be better communication on what is happening and some closure so that staff in the Bolton branch can move on.

“I'm hearing from them that they feel they are being strung along, still going into work with little or nothing to do.

Wilko went into administration earlier this month (Image: Newsquest)

“Again, it feels that the workers in retail and service industries are an afterthought for the owners and administrators.”

The posters that have been put up in the Deansgate branch as of Friday morning tell customers that “everything must go” and say that there are thousands of reductions throughout the store.

As well as the town centre outlet, Bolton also has a branch of Wilko at Middlebrook Retail Park which could be under threat.

Shoppers in the town, which has already lost its Marks and Spencer and Clinton Cards this year, have already spoken out about their dismay at possibly losing yet another high street name.

Across the county, Wilko runs around 400 branches, all of which are now at risk, and employs more than 12,500 people, who’s jobs are now threatened.

The deadline for the first round of offers for rescue bids to take over closed earlier this week on Wednesday August 16.

GMB national secretary Andy Prendergast said: “We can confirm there have been expressions of interest from organisations who are considering taking over at least some parts of the business.

“These are still at an early stage, but means there are genuine grounds for hope.

“Whilst this process continues staff will continue to be paid and kept on.

"All stores are continuing to trade, and deliveries of new stock will continue.”

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Administrators PwC are then believed to have began the process of choosing serious bids from Friday onwards but it is not known how long the process will take.

Wilko branches all around the country are expected to continue trading while the administration process takes place.

Wilko stores have continued to trade and will remain open as the insolvency process continues.

But the GMB union, which represents Wilko workers, says there is still hope that a buyer could be found.

The retailer’s chief executive, Mark Jackson, said last Thursday it had received “a significant level of interest”, but was “left with no choice but to take this unfortunate action” after being unable to close a solvent sale.