STAFF at a Barrhead firm which collapsed after suffering a cash crisis have hit out at its owners for leaving them “in the dark” over the company’s demise.

As revealed in the Barrhead News last week, customers are set to be left hundreds of pounds out of pocket as a result of Swim Confident’s sudden closure.

The firm, based in Cross Arthurlie Street, ran swimming lessons for children at venues in Glasgow and East Renfrewshire.

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Owners Graham and Claire Marshall confirmed the company’s finances are now in the hands of liquidators, meaning families who had already paid for classes face an uphill battle to get the cash back.

However, that news came as a shock to coaches at the firm, who have complained about a lack of communication from Mr and Mrs Marshall.

One staff member who contacted the Barrhead News said: “The coaches haven’t been told anything and we’ve not been able to contact the owners.

“It’s been complete radio silence. We have had parents phoning and messaging us but we know as much as them.

“A lot of us have had issues getting paid over the last few months and it’s been quite upsetting.

“To not tell the staff what has been going on is disgusting.”

Another employee added: “We didn’t know anything about what was going on.

“Some of us are owed hundreds of pounds in wages and it’s unlikely we’ll ever get the money.

“The way this has happened has been totally unprofessional and really unfair on all of us.”

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In an email sent to parents, Mr and Mrs Marshall blamed the sudden closure of the business on let cancellations by Glasgow City Council and a failure by some customers to pay their fees.

They wrote: “We can tell you that it was never our intention to find ourselves in this position and we tried until the very end to balance everything.”

Glasgow City Council later confirmed it is owed cash by Swim Confident and stressed that any bookings lost due to maintenance at swimming venues would have been refunded.

The Barrhead News made a number of attempts to contact Mr and Mrs Marshall, who have since changed Swim Confident’s address, but has been unable to reach them.