Demolition boss wins director ban appeal

A LANCASHIRE businessman has successfully overturned a five-year director ban.

Andrew Connolly, 50,  of Burnley agreed to the disqualification order last December after the failure of his business in June 2010 with debts of nearly £1.3m.

He has now succeeded in an appeal to the county court to be allowed to act as managing director of his re-formed company, Andrew Connolly Demolition, which has 25 staff.

Mr Connolly, a former chairman of Rossendale United FC, said: “It’s a huge relief to get reinstated as a company director.When the ban was put in place last December I’m not too proud to admit it was a massive blow.

“I’d built the company up from a standing start over a 30-year period but then due to one blip, which was largely out of our control, we got into difficulty. The last two years have been the toughest period of my life but I’m pleased to say that is now behind me and the business is heading in the right direction again.

“We’ve managed to retain all of our staff, we’ve got some decent contracts in the pipeline, and we are back on the front foot again.”

Mr Connolly’s original business ran into difficulties following the credit crunch and property crash of 2007/08.

An investigation by the Insolvency Service following its demise found that the businessman had paid himself rather than creditors to the tune of around £80,000.

The judge who upheld his appeal recognised that Mr Connolly had worked closely with the liquidator and had an on-going plan to pay back all the company’s creditors.

Solicitor Mark Deverell, of Stockport-based Gorvins, who acted on Mr Connolly’s behalf, said: “It was pleasing to help Andrew get back to his position as managing director of the business so that it can continue to grow and provide the highest level of service to customers and financial security to its staff.

“Out of an unfortunate situation the right result has been achieved. Andrew deserved and needed to be in that position as a director. The judge saw that he needed to be the figurehead of the business and recognised that without his involvement at that level it would not flourish.”