EYMS Group has announced that the sale of its Finglands coach operations is now agreed and that part of the Finglands business will pass to Bullocks Coaches of Manchester.
The sale includes all but two of the existing Finglands coach fleet and all staff employed in the coaching business are being offered jobs at Bullocks under their existing terms and conditions.
EYMS Chairman Peter Shipp said: “We are very disappointed that we have had to take the hard decision to dispose of the coach business but it would be difficult for us to continue it in Manchester as a stand-alone operation once the Finglands bus business has gone. Finglands Coachways has a long and proud history going back over 100 years, and from 1934 or possibly even earlier and until very recently it was well-known for providing the team coach for Manchester City. I am sure it has found a very good home with a reputable and long-established company like Bullocks. I hope that our coaching staff will be happy with their new employer, which I am sure intends to carry on and develop their enlarged coaching operation.”
Mr Shipp continued: “We are still very hopeful that the previously announced sale of Finglands bus business to FirstGroup will go ahead but this is still subject to clearance by the OFT. Both First and EYMS have supplied a huge amount of information to the OFT and I very much hope they will announce their decision very soon so we can end the uncertainty for our staff in Manchester. Naturally, I hope they will agree to the deal as I am absolutely certain that it will not have any negative effect on competition in the area.”
