The brothers announced the move this afternoon, saying they were standing aside to leave the way clear for Jim McColl, the Clyde Blowers supremo, to save the shipyard.
A spokesman for Sandy and James Easdale said: “The Easdale brothers are delighted that a businessman with Jim McColl’s engineering background is keen to take over the yard.
"Sandy spoke to Jim at length this morning, and his plans for hundreds of jobs and millions of pounds in investment are exactly what Inverclyde needs.
"We are informed that our bid is competitive and has reached the shortlist but we feel that Jim McColl is better equipped to take the yard forward. We said all along that we would step aside if somebody with an engineering pedigree and access to markets wanted to get involved.
"Our only interest has been to save the yard and as many jobs as possible. As local businessmen the Easdales have a strong interest in seeing a thriving Inverclyde economy.”
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