McColl's convenience store this week admitted the firm may be put into administration if funders cannot be found to save the failing business.
In a statement issued on Thursday (May 5), the retail chain - which has 18 stores across Lanarkshire - said the possibility was looking "increasingly likely".
Back in March, McColl's confirmed a takeover bid to buy the company had been withdrawn, but that a number of parties were looking to buy different parts of the business.
The firm also confirmed earlier this year that it was working through £97m of debt difficulties with lenders, seeking a long-term agreement in relation to the balance of its facility.
Now, the company - with some 16,000 employees, the majority of whom are part-time - noted the administrators would be called in but insisted that discussions are still ongoing.
McColl's are reported as saying that the organisation may be "be placed into administration with the objective of achieving a sale of the group to a third-party purchaser and securing the interests of creditors and employees."
McColl's has more than 1300 stores in the UK - of the Lanarkshire stores, five are in Hamilton, one in East Kilbride and one in Lanark.
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