‘They paid themselves well even in bad times’

furlough money’. He said: ‘These guys were taking money out in the good times. And in the bad times they were still paying themselves well. One of the things I can’t get my head around is how you could preside over such a disaster and not have resigned yet.’

The company’s share price dived after it was revealed that it could be just weeks away from filing for bankruptcy.

The chain, which has 128 cinemas in the UK, has seen its market value plunge to just £31 million.

Its problems have escalated since it said earlier this month that a lack of big-budget movies was damaging admissions. Hollywood has been releasing fewer blockbusters than usual in recent times – although Brad Pitt’s new film Bullet Train opened earlier this month.

Cineworld has warned that it needs more cash and it has admitted considering a large capital restructuring to save the business.

A source close to the process warned that Cineworld’s creditors, including Cineplex, could lose out. ‘There’s going to be a significant haircut here for everybody,’ the source told the MoS.

Cineworld said last week it was ‘in discussions with many of its major stakeholders including its secured lenders and their legal and financial advisers’.

The company did not respond to requests for comment.