The founder of Muirfield Contracts today described the collapse of the business he built as “disturbing.”
Maurice McKay also said he felt for the “loyal and committed” workers that had been left in limbo as a result of the company’s demise.
The well-known local businessman started the company with Jim Ross in 1988 and remained at the helm through various ups and downs in the construction market.
He also guided Muirfield through the recessionary period before being bought out by Azure Investments in 2013, a company headed up by Thomas John Stodart.See also:First Minister pledges support for workersReacting to developments which have seen hundreds of workers put on effective gardening leave, Mr Mckay said: “I obviously feel for them. They are very loyal and committed people and, at the end of the day, they are in limbo until they understand what is happening.”
Mr McKay also said he could shed no light on what had brought Muirfield to its knees.Are you affected by Muirfield’s problems? Contact The Courier by phoning 01382 575130 or emailnews@thecourier.co.uk“I am no further forward than anyone else,” he said.
“They are in the process of entering administration…..it is a bit disturbing and concerning but at the end of the day I am out of the business and have been for some time.
“It has been left with the new owners to run the business and it has ended up this way.”
Following Mr McKay’s departure, a senior management team was put in place by the new owners to drive the business forward.
However, new managing director Lindsay Cowan’s tenure in post lasted just 14 months before former Miller Group executive Richard Gallacher came in as chief executive officer last June.
Other senior figures including business development manager Dyke McKenzie came and went from Muirfield during the period following Azure’s takeover.
Only last month, Mr Gallacher declared that Muirfield’s senior management team had now been fully assembled with the appointment of former SSE executive Lesley McCourt as managing director.
Despite Muirfield telling workers that administrators were in the process of being appointed yesterday, no formal engagement has been declared as yet.
Builders union UCATT has expressed its concerns at the situation and senior local politicians have also tried to make contact with Muirfield management without success in recent days.
The Scottish Government has pledged that its PACE – Partnership Action for Continuing Employment – team will be made available to supper and assist workers where appropriate.
The situation may also be raised with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at Holyrood later today.
Muirfield’s administration not only affects the company’s direct workforce but also has serious implications for the wider building trade in the city, many of whom work as sub-contractors or provide materials to the business.
In January TOR Homes signed a major contract with Muirfield to redevelop Eastern Primary School in Broughty Ferry and the firm moved on site for preliminary works last month.
TOR director Paul Millan said: “To lose our main contractor at the outset of this construction project is a major setback. However, we have been working on our vision for two years and remain 100% committed to completing the project.
“On this week’s news it would be premature for us to predict future timescales but we will be working hard to replace our main contractor and will make further announcements on the revised building programme in due course.”
Muirfield was also involved in a number of other major developments – including the repurposing of DC Thomson & Co’s headquarters building in Meadowside and the transformation of the former Parkview School site on Blackness Road – at the time of its collapse.
Dundee councillor Tom Ferguson said it was vital that Muirfield’s skills base was not lost to the city as the administration process dragged on.
“We have a skilled workforce here who are capable more than capable of doing the job,” Cllr Ferguson said.
“We have the V&A and all these sites. It would be crass stupidity, with all the projects going on in Dundee, if we allow ourselves to lose this workforce.”