THE co-ordinator of a group that battled for compensation for ex-MG Rover workers has described the news that the firm's former bosses are to receive six-figure payouts as "disgusting".

John Towers, Peter Beale, John Edwards and Nick Stephenson, the four executives of Phoenix Venture Holdings (PVH), dubbed the “Phoenix Four”, bought the Longbridge-based firm for £10 in 2000, going on to pay themselves £40 million.

After the collapse of the firm in 2005, the Advertiser reported on the battle for compensation by the Justice for Rover Workers group.

But promises of four-figure payouts to ex-workers from a trust fund were crushed after a claim from HBOS, and the group later conceded defeat.

After a much delayed agreement between the Pensions Regulator and liquidators Begbies Traynor it has been announced that the former executives, as well as chief executive Kevin Howe, will receive £1 million each from subsidiary firm MGR Capital.

Oliver Thomas, a former MG Rover employee and co-ordinator of the Justice for Rovers Workers Group, said: "Disgusting, I campaigned for this money.

"It was a con from the word go as they said the trust fund was from Phoenix assets and this was always outside of that."

On the Justice for Rover Workers Group's Facebook site many argued the money should have instead gone to the 6,500 employees who lost their jobs when the Longbridge firm collapsed.

David Alford said: "This is scandalous, have these men got no conscience? Give the money back to the workers who worked for them, believed in them and were let down by them."

Describing it as another kick in the teeth, Andy Sillitoe said: "Payout for the management, how nice nothing for the hard working 6,000 of us."

Julia Southam said that the group should have been called there is no justice for Rover workers.

She added: " When are the workers going to get justice? Let's not hold our breath."