Major merchants were represented, along with some of Scotlands larger print groups.

"It was a frank exchange and got a little bit heated at points," said Montgomery. "But it was good-natured at the end."

The next step will be for the printers to get together and "hammer out what we consider a phoenix to be".

"I wouldnt want to be part of anything where a guy with 30 years in the trade had fallen on hard times and gone bust," added Montgomery.

Printers are to write to merchants setting out their position in the coming weeks.