The former managing director of Shropshire construction company Frank Galliers today said he was “bitterly disappointed” at the closure of his former family firm.

Ian Galliers described the mysterious closure of the company as a “dreadful shame” and said his thoughts, and those of his former fellow directors, were with the 138 workers affected.

Mr Galliers was managing director of Shrewsbury-based Frank Galliers when it was sold to parent company Pan Atlanta in 2004. He is now in Afghanistan working as a contractor with the Royal Engineers.

He said he had ceased to have any connection with the firm since the sale, after spending 18 months as a consultant working with current directors George Butler and Kevin Connolly as part of the terms of the takeover deal.

Workers at the company’s headquarters in Oxon Business Park have said they were told on Monday night that they were being made redundant.

The offices have been locked up since Tuesday with work at its various sites, including those in Oswestry and Bishop’s Castle, grinding to a halt.

It is understood that Frank Galliers Ltd is being taken into administration but there has been no official confirmation from management, Companies House or any appointed administrator.

Mr Galliers said: “I’m bitterly disappointed for all the employees, it’s a dreadful shame when something like this happens. When we sold the company in 2004, we had a strong order book, the company was doing well.

“It has been difficult with the economic climate and I think the management there has been working hard. But speaking personally and for my fellow former directors, it was something we built up so that these people could take it on to greater heights and it’s very disappointing.

“I know many of the employees personally. It’s a great shame and I hope something can be sorted for them when we get to the bottom of what has happened.

“We, as a family, have had no involvement in the company for about five years and the only information I know about it is through the Shropshire Star website and e-mails from home.”

By Business Editor Amy Bould