Retail Week claims to have seen an email to Zavvi staff in which chief executive Simon Douglas, commercial director Mark Noonan and an external third party say that they have made the bid to administrator Ernst & Young to take on parts of the business.

Douglas says he expects negotiations to conclude "soon", with further announcements to be made over the coming weeks.

Ernst & Young says, "Due to confidentiality, the joint administrators would never discuss details with regards to ...