A TEAM of skilled Southampton craftsmen is facing an uncertain time as the company is put up for sale by its Australian owners.

Nicholson Interiors, which was acquired by the Austal Group seven months ago after financial difficulties, has now been put on the market as a going concern.

The 42-strong city workforce has established a global reputation for the high quality fitting out of top-of-the-range luxury super yachts and fast ferry interiors.

Greg Hollick, a member of Austal Group's management team, is now in Southampton to oversee the sale of the operation, which has its headquarters at Imperial Park, Empress Road.

"I am very confident that a sale will go through. We are not here to make a lot of money, we just want to protect the jobs of our employees,'' said Mr Hollick.

"They are very skilled craftsmen and I am sure the workforce has a strong future here in Southampton.

"Austal rescued the company, realising its reputation and potential. Now it is back in shape and we see this as the right time to sell and pass it back to local ownership.

"I am here to make this happen as quickly as possible so that the market opportunities we've worked hard to achieve come to fruition, while at the same time ensuring continuity of employment for the very capable management and highly skilled tradesmen at Nicholson Interiors.''

Mr Hollick said there had already been interest in the company from potential buyers but he would not go into details other than saying Austal Group were looking for a "speedy'' sale.

"The company's potential order book looks extremely bright and they have been successful in generating their own work and opportunities,'' said Mr Hollick.

Nicholson Interiors was purchased from the administrators by Image Marine, a part of the Austal Ships Group of shipbuilding companies, which employ more than 1,700 staff in Australia and the USA.

The Southampton company supplied much of the interior for Greg Norman's superyacht, Aussie Rule to Oceanfast, another Austal division.