An Aberdeen councillor has demanded urgent answers over claims a late bid could be lodged to revive the historic Stoneywood paper mill.
Opposition Labour group leader Barney Crockett said yesterday that saving jobs at the site would be "welcome".
But he believed ex-employees are "deeply sceptical" about reports that a viable bid could be made at the 11th hour.
Mr Crockett, a former lord provost, spoke out after local SNP MSP Jackie Dunbar revealed to the Press & Journal that she believed at least one "credible" offer was likely to be made to keep it as a paper mill.
More than 300 workers lost their jobs after the facility, which dates back to 1770, was put into administration last September.
Administrator Interpath Advisory said "severe challenges posed by the pandemic", along with "sky-rocketing energy costs", had been overwhelming for mill owner Arjowiggins.
Previous offer
The P&J revealed in November that an offer to take over the mill had been made by Glasgow-based Bell & Bain, one of the UK's largest and oldest independent book printers and binders.
However, it was rejected - with one insider insisting at the time that no "credible" offers had been made.
The administrator has set a deadline for offers to be made for the mill by next Tuesday.
Mr Crockett, one of the local councillors for the area, said: "Why would any serious bidders wait until over 320 workers at Stoneywood mill have been made redundant?
"Why would any serious bidders have kept quiet about their interest until the mill has been in administration for months?
"Why would they not talk to the trade union, the workforce, the local councillors, the local community or the community council?
Workers 'very concerned'
"Mill workers are bound to be very concerned about this so-called late bid."
Mr Crockett added: "I call on any local elected representative who is privy to secret information about the future of Stoneywood mill to come clean - and tell the workforce and the local community what is really going on as a matter of urgency, before raising any more false hopes for my constituents who have lost their jobs."
A spokeswoman for the administrator said it had "always remained open to offers" from those wishing to acquire the ,ill site as an operational facility.
She added: "An updated deadline for offers of February 21 has been set in order to let the joint administrators establish if there are any credible offers (in terms of value and ability to execute) and to give potential interested parties clarity around format and timing of bids."
Employment Minister Richard Lochhead said: "We would expect that administrator Interpath would give full consideration to any credible bid aimed at keeping the site at Stoneywood as a going concern.
"Scottish Enterprise is in regular contact with the administrator and is continuing to work with it to help find a sustainable future for the site."