THE founder of an award-winning publishing house which collapsed after he abruptly quit has launched the first title under his own venture.

Adrian Searle left the Glasgow-based Freight in April and the firm, which was named Scottish publisher of the year in 2015, is now being wound up after no buyer was found for its parent company.

Dozens of acclaimed authors including Janice Galloway and Alan Bissett were offered terms to buy their own stockpiled books as the parent firm Freight Design (Scotland) Limited plunged into administration, with liquidation expected now within days.

Now it has emerged that Mr Searle's new venture, Dalbeath Trading, has published its first title. The Willow Tea Rooms Recipe Book has been produced by the company, under a publishing imprint called Wild Harbour.

Leading agent Jenny Brown told The Bookseller she was shocked and angry that in the week Freight Books is wound up, Mr Searle has printed his first book.

One author, who declined to be named, said: "Mr Searle is free to do whatever he wants, but the irony of him launching his first book with a new company in the week all the authors were told Freight Books is to be wound up is not lost on anyone.”

At the time of his departure, Mr Searle cited "differences over strategic direction" at the company.

Speaking for the first time since the schism, Mr Searle said there were "fundamental" disagreements with his business partner, Davinder Samrai, who co-founded parent company Freight Design (Scotland) Limited.

Mr Searle that between November 2016 and April this year he had tried to reach agreement with Mr Samrai to buy the Freight books business.

"A business with two partners with equal shareholdings requires consent and co-operation to function," he said.

"After a complete breakdown in our relationship, I left Freight on 24th April 2017.

"Decisions were being made that I fundamentally disagreed with and I felt there was no other option than to resign as a director and employee."

He said that Freight Books was "financially sound and operating as normal" when he left the company in April.

"All decisions relating to the business made after 24th April were my former business partner’s alone," he added.

"I understand the hurt and anger felt by former Freight writers and feel a great deal of sympathy for those employees of Freight who were recently made redundant. The demise of Freight, a business I dedicated 16 years of my life to, is a personal tragedy."

Freight did receive significant government backing over the years. Creative Scotland's open project funding to Freight Books amounted to £234,189 in total from 2010 to 2017.

Mr Searle said: "In terms of Creative Scotland funding received in the past, this was always for specific publications.

"All funded books were delivered, bar one which was subsequently published after I left.

"Considering the facts surrounding my departure from Freight, I don’t believe I should be precluded from current or future involvement in the publishing industry."

Mr Samrai, who co-founded parent company Freight Design (Scotland) Limited, did not comment on Mr Searle's statement.

However, he has said he moved to help writers affected by the collapse of the publishing house.

Creative Scotland has raised concerns over the fate of the firm but appeared to rule out attempting to claw back grant cash.

A Creative Scotland spokesman said: "We are deeply dismayed by the current situation at what was until recently one of our leading publishers.

"We continue to be in dialogue with many authors affected regarding their contractual obligations to Freight, and are offering advice and assistance where we can."

Marion Sinclair, chief executive of Publishing Scotland, told The Bookseller: “We are aware of this development.

"The company was not secret as Adrian Searle had registered a company previously at Companies House.

"Wild Harbour is the name of the imprint but not the company name."