According to a report in Le Parisien, the administrators put the company up for sale on Friday after other rescue options had failed.

Mr Doux said that he and his son have a 35 per cent share in the company and with other family members they own 80 per cent of Doux.

The administrator said that there would have to be conditions if Mr Doux wanted to put together his own rescue package.

In an interview with Le Parisien, Mr Doux said part of the trouble had been caused by funds being blocked by the banks.

He had refused to hand over the keys to Barclays bank during the official negotiations led by Arnaud Montebourg, earlier this month because they had no business plan and no guarantee of employment for the employees.

He also called on the bank Natixis to release €10 million and he claimed the company was able to finance itself while a rescue plan was put together if funds were released.

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