THE boss of haulage and plant hire businesses that failed with debts of around £432,000 has been banned from company management for five years.

Joseph O'Connell, aged 63, of The Avenue, Leigh cannot hold directorships nor take any part in company management for five years.

The undertaking was given in respect of his conduct as a director of four companies.

They were: "JOC Limited, which traded from Parsonage Farm, Kirkhall Lane, Leigh, between August 1999 and December 2002 and was placed into voluntary liquidation on December 3, 2002 with estimated debts of £111,098 owed to its creditors;

Joe O'Connell Haulage Limited, which traded from the same address between January 1992 and January 1996 and was placed into compulsory liquidation by an Order of the Court dated August 14, 1996 with estimated debts of £45,521 owed to its creditors;

Joe O'Connell Plant Hire Limited, which traded from the same address between November 1991 and April 1999 and was placed into compulsory liquidation by an Order of the Court dated April 21, 1999 with estimated debts of £77,937 owed to its creditors;

Rarediamond Limited, which traded from the same address between January 1998 and April 1999 and was placed into voluntary liquidation on April 12, 1999 with estimated debts of £197,533 owed to its creditors.

Acceptance of the undertaking prevents Mr O'Connell from being a director of a company or, in any way, whether directly or indirectly, being concerned in or taking part in the promotion, formation or management of a company for the above period.