Collapsed DIY retailer Focus is attracting interest from a string of retailers and restructuring firms for all or part of the business.

It is understood that Focus’s management, including chairman Bill Grimsey and chief executive Rob Gladwin, are among those interested – particularly in the successful ‘convenience store’ format.

However, no bid has been formally made and one source told Retail Week that the likelihood of a successful management bid was “very low”.

Restructuring firm GA Europe – which was trying to buy Focus from owner Cerberus before it was plunged into administration last Wednesday – hopes to buy stock and clear it on behalf of creditors, and remains potentially interested in some stores.

Value homewares retailer Dunelm is eyeing stores, while B&Q owner Kingfisher acquired up to 31 for £23m last week, as forecast by Retail Week. Wickes said it may snap up some, while The Range owner Chris Dawson is also keen to do a deal.

Administrator Ernst & Young said it was “talking to a significant number of parties” and was still pursuing a sale as a going concern.

Martin Harris, group commercial director of Carpetright, which has concessions in 16 Focus stores, expressed regret about the administration but said it wasn’t “that material” for Carpetright.

Grimsey and GA Europe declined to comment.

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