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Wrightbus: Jeff Wright unable to reach deal to sell Ballymena firm Wrightbus: Jeff Wright 'can't reach deal' for Ballymena firm
(32 minutes later)
The owner of the Wrightbus factory has said he has not been able to reach a deal to sell it to a new owner.The owner of the Wrightbus factory has said he has not been able to reach a deal to sell it to a new owner.
However, the union representing Wrightbus workers said a deal could still be possible. However, the union representing workers at the County Antrim bus manufacturing firm said a deal was still be possible.
"It is not dead in the water, it's hanging by a thread," Unite official George Brash said. "It is not dead in the water - it's hanging by a thread," said Unite official George Brash.
In a statement Jeff Wright said the sticking point was farmland which he does not consider to be part of the factory site. Former Wrightbus director Jeff Wright said on Thursday the sticking point was over farmland that he does not consider to be part of the factory site.
He said failure to complete a deal is "deeply regrettable, especially after the exhaustive efforts all of us involved have gone to in providing every possible support". He said failure to complete a deal was "deeply regrettable, especially after the exhaustive efforts all of us involved have gone to in providing every possible support".
The Ballymena business was placed into administration and put up for sale in September. The Ballymena business was placed into administration and put up for sale last month.
The Wrightbus premises are owned separately from the manufacturing business and held in a company called Whirlwind Property Two, which is not part of the Wrights group and is therefore not under the control of the administrator. The Wrightbus premises are owned separately from the manufacturing business and held in a company called Whirlwind Property Two, which is not part of the Wright group and is therefore not under the control of the administrator.
The property company is controlled by Jeff Wright, the former owner of Wrightbus. The property company is controlled by Mr Wright, the former owner of Wrightbus.
English industrialist Jo Bamford wants to buy the Wrightbus business and the factory through his Ryse Hydrogen company.English industrialist Jo Bamford wants to buy the Wrightbus business and the factory through his Ryse Hydrogen company.
Mr Wright said that he hopes the firm's administrator, Deloitte, "have not been side-tracked by the Bamford engagement and can now put their energies into delivering a deal by working with the remaining bidders to secure the future of Wrightbus and the jobs in Ballymena". Mr Wright said he hoped the firm's administrator Deloitte had "not been sidetracked by the Bamford engagement" and could work with the remaining bidders.
On Thursday morning, DUP MP Ian Paisley told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme that: "Today is decision day." Mr Brash of the Unite union said he understood an outline deal had reached on Wednesday but changes were made my Mr Wright on Thursday morning, which "threw the entire negotiations into uncertainty".
He added: "Unite has sought to engage directly with Jeff Wright but as yet our request for a meeting has gone unanswered.
"We are calling on all sides, in particular Jeff Wright, to do the right thing and adopt a sensible approach that will open the door to a future for these workers."
'Paisley role unhelpful'
On Thursday morning, Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MP Ian Paisley said: "Today is decision day."
"If the answer is that we cannot get the deal consummated, in terms of the land sale deal, then I'm afraid the worst of all situations prevails and we're left with liquidation of assets of the company," he said."If the answer is that we cannot get the deal consummated, in terms of the land sale deal, then I'm afraid the worst of all situations prevails and we're left with liquidation of assets of the company," he said.
"It's either the continuation of building the best buses produced in the world or it's the end of bus building in Ballymena.""It's either the continuation of building the best buses produced in the world or it's the end of bus building in Ballymena."
Paisley role "unhelpful" The North Antrim MP said Mr Bamford told him on Tuesday that jobs would be created within two weeks if a deal was made.
The North Antrim MP said Mr Bamford told him on Tuesday that jobs would be created within two weeks, if a deal is made.
"The Wright family have made a mammoth contribution to Northern Ireland over three generations and this maintains that rich history," said Mr Paisley."The Wright family have made a mammoth contribution to Northern Ireland over three generations and this maintains that rich history," said Mr Paisley.
"Everyone needs to put their shoulder to the line and get this deal over the line.""Everyone needs to put their shoulder to the line and get this deal over the line."
Mr Wright said Mr Paisley's role as North Antrim MP had been "unhelpful to say the least" and advised that he left "the business of deal making to the professionals at Deloitte". But Jeff Wright said Mr Paisley's role had been "unhelpful to say the least" and he advised that the MP to "leave the business of deal making to the professionals at Deloitte".
"In what could be considered a vote-campaigning exercise, Mr Paisley continually championed Mr Bamford throughout this process," added Jeff Wright.