Wythenshawe market traders say they are in 'complete limbo'.
A proposal to permanently close the indoor market was announced by Manchester council in April this year, after footfall continued to fall as a result of the ongoing pandemic.
That was pushed back until October 2021, as funding was made available to continue subsidising the market for a further six months.
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But as that deadline approaches, traders say they are still in the dark about the plans for the indoor market - and whether they will still have a job by the end of next month.
When asked by the Manchester Evening News about plans for the market, a spokesperson for Manchester council said the future of the market is still 'yet to be determined.'
The council say they're doing their 'utmost' to find a 'workable solution for the future and to protect the livelihood of market tenants'.
Malcolm Wootton, 55, has worked at Royles Butchers on the indoor market since he was 13.
The family-run butchers, which is something of institution for Wythenshawe locals, has been in business for more than 50 years.
But the shop could be forced to close down for good next month, leaving Malcolm without a business and his staff without a job.
"The council is not giving us any information at all," he said.
"By the end of September I could be out of work and they won't tell me what's going on. I don't know what to do with all my stock or my staff."
Only three stalls remain on the indoor market now, as many have shut up shop or moved premises due to the uncertainty.
Malcolm, who works along side his wife Angela, says they have one full time and one part time employee left, as others have quit to find more stable work.
"We still don't know if the date is going to be extended," he said.
"At the moment, we are in complete limbo. We haven’t got a clue.
"I don’t know what to say to my staff at this point."
Malcolm says the pandemic and the declining high street has seen footfall plummet by around 60 per cent.
"All my savings have gone into keeping this place going, so I don't have the money to open a new shop," he added.
"The shops around the Civic Centre are too expensive to rent even though most of them are empty.
"One place wanted £45,000 a year."
Malcolm and Angela say the uncertainty over whether the market's contract will be extended beyond October is making it impossible to plan for the future.
For Christmas, they would usually have all their orders booked in by now, but have had to put this on hold.
"Even if they are going to shut us down, we just want to know where we stand," Malcolm added.
"I just want them to explain so I can tell my staff.
"I have not had any wages for the last year and have a bounce back loan which I won’t be able to pay if we close.
"I have worked at this butcher since I was 13. That’s 50 years."
Maria, 46, ran Quirky Misfits on the indoor market.
She recently decided to shut her shop and leave due to the uncertainty.
"Nobody knows what they are going to do because none of us can afford to pay the rent elsewhere," she said.
"If the council do close the indoor market, they are basically making everyone redundant.
"People are absolutely devastated.
"It is really sad I was brought up in Wythenshawe market and it's been absolutely ruined."
The town hall currently pays a £110,000 a year subsidy for the indoor section of Wythenshawe market, which bosses say is in an ‘unsustainable’ position after losing money over several years.
Councillor Rabnawaz Akbar, executive member for neighbourhoods, said: "The past year has been a terrible trading environment for everyone in Manchester but as a Council we have worked hard to support business owners wherever possible.
"In our markets we have worked with traders to provide financial relief when eligible and have proactively sought ways to find new locations for businesses to continue working outside of Wythenshawe Market.
"The situation is incredibly difficult but the council is doing its utmost to find a workable solution for the future and to protect the livelihood of market tenants."
