‘Still some time before Muirfield collapse is cleared up’

Administrators Campbell Dallas issued the warning as the disclosed that they have secured further recoveries of just over £100,000 from the £7.46m owed to Muirfield by debtors, but 253 debtor balances are still to resolve.

Muirfield went into administration in March last year with the loss of almost 300 jobs and debts of more than £13 million.

The company was sold in May 2013 by Maurice Mackay to Ensco 395 Ltd, after which Thomas John Stodart was made a director and joint chairman.

Mr Stodart blamed inheriting loss-making contracts and overstatement of previous profits among reasons for the collapse.

In 2013, however, the firm made a pre-tax profit of about £1 million from a turnover of £48m with net assets of £9.2 million.

In May last year, Campbell Dallas accused Mr Stodart of not giving a full picture of Muirfield’s financial position.

“It will be some time yet before work is completed on sites which were in progress at the time of our appointment,” the administrators said.

“In some cases, we may require to await expiry of defect liability periods before the final position is known.

“We therefore expect it to be some considerable time yet before final balances can be agreed and pursued.”

Claims have been received from 535 of Muirfield’s 1,246 potential unsecured creditors, excluding employees, for £15.03 million.

The Insolvency Service is considering whether wrongdoing occurred over the firm’s demise and if sanctions should be imposed on Muirfield’s directors.