New name and new bosses for M&P

What’s left of ailing chain M&P has been rescued by members of its management team.

A new company, M&P Direct, has taken over the mail order operation and the chain’s branches in Coventry, Oxford and Swansea.

The firm went into administration in October and nine branches were closed in the following two months.

Two former M&P employees – Martyn Lewis and Stan Hartill will be joined by Martin Ellison, who joins from the car world, as executives of M&P Direct.

The new firm also takes on the mail order parts service MPS.

A statement suggests it will concentrate on mail order parts and accessories, rather than bikes.

Lewis, who will be operations director of the new firm, said: " The problems the company experienced came through a very rapid expansion by the parent company in a number of areas just before a time of great economic uncertainty. "