The former managing director of Woolworths, Tony Page has stated that he continues to hope the brand may be brought back by current owners, Shop Direct. Woolworths, which went into administration in 2008 after accumulating £400m in debt, has been merged into the Very brand, after operating as an online retailer for some years after its initial closure. Page went on to suggest that the store “could be better as being part of the community, rather than in shopping centres.”