Investors are expecting Alldays to report a thumping loss when the c-store chain publishes its delayed annual results later this month. The company had an annus horriblis last year with the ongoing row with its regional development companies rumbling on and on. That was topped by a poll in Management Today voting it the least admired company in the UK, receiving the lowest score in the history of the awards. New md David Clapham, who took over in November, has a vast job ahead of him in trying to pull around the ailing c-store chain. He will not have been heartened to hear news of the loss of a contract to supply 200 Total-Fina forecourts from this month. The sale of Trademarket cash and carry chain to Booker is unlikely to stem the flow of cash out of the company, which is likely to see a large hole in the exceptionals' side of the balance sheet. Investec's David Stoddart said: "There's no doubt the company will be posting a thumping loss and will be hit hard with exceptional costs. "Clapham has a hard task ahead of him, but he must gain control of the RDCs to be able to get more direct control of the business." Shares have plunged this year, slipping from 82.5p in June last year down to the present rock bottom of 50p. At their peak in the summer of 1998 the shares were worth more than £6 each. The feeling is they can only get lower. {{NEWS }}