SCORES of workers at Debenhams stores across Oldham, Bury and Bolton, are bracing themselves for bad news after it was revealed today 40 more stores have been earmarked closure.

The struggling high street retailer has already announced that it will close 50 stores over the next three to five years, affecting around 4,000 jobs as part of a major rescue plan.

But according to reports in the national press today, a further raft of stores could shut, pushing the total number of workers affected up to 10,000.

Bosses at the embattled company have so far refused go into detail over which stores are under threat, but after gloomy festive period across the whole retail sector, Debenhams’ presence in Greater Manchester’s satellite towns looks increasingly vulnerable, as the firm grapples with falling footfall, a large rent bill and intensifying competition online.

FTI Consulting was hired last week by a group of the company’s lenders to advise on restructuring Debenhams.

Twenty-four hours later Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley, who holds a 30 per cent stake in Debenhams, staged a boardroom coup, ousting chairman Ian Cheshire and chief executive Sergio Bucher.

Mr Bucher remains in the chief executive role but no longer has a seat on the board after Mr Ashley and another shareholder, Landmark capital, voted against his re-appointment.

The company said it is in the "best interests of Debenhams plc that the executive team remains fully focused on delivery of the plan".

Shares fell a further 3 per cent on Monday morning to a record low of just 3.79p, down from 195p when Debenhams floated on the stock market in 2006.

Back then the chain was valued at £1.7billion; Now it is worth £83m. Like-for-like sales dropped 3.4 per cent in the six weeks to January 5.

The Oldham Times, The Bury Times and The Bolton News has contacted Debenhams for comment.