Accies Chairman, Ronnie to the rescue of 100 jobs at Cullen

May 14 2009 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON Accies chairman Ronnie MacDonald this week confirmed he has bought back into Cullen Packaging, saving nearly 100 jobs.

And he assured supporters that the deal won’t impact in any way on the New Douglas Park club’s finances.

Mr MacDonald sold his 50 per cent shareholding in the Maryhill firm in April last year, but after it went into administration in February with reported debts of £10.5million, he became interested in taking over.

A deal was struck with joint administrator Liz Mackay, a partner with insolvency specialist Zolfo Cooper, with backing from the Allied Irish Bank.

The price paid by Mr MacDonald for the business in a competitive auction was not disclosed.

The Accies supremo this week said the deal means almost 100 jobs have been saved at the packaging plant, and former Hamilton boss Allan Maitland has been promoted to managing director, while Denis McDaid, formerly a coach at the New Douglas Park club, is now sales director.

Although he joked that he’s not happy about being dragged back out of “retirement”, Ronnie told the Advertiser: “This was just something I had to do.

“There is a really good workforce there that we spent years assembling, and I didn’t want them all to lose their jobs.

“There have been figures banded around but it will be closer to 100 jobs that will have been saved once we’re back up and running.

“I’m pleased to be back involved but it’s about giving people opportunities.

“I can say that there is absolutely no question of this interfering with Hamilton Accies’ finances.”

Cullen Packaging makes pulp-based disposable bedpans and medical trays for the NHS, and manufactures cardboard boxes.

MacDonald had bought the business with Frank Hogarth back in 1986.