NexCen Brands, which owns The Athlete’s Foot, is struggling to pay $30 million toward a loan by October. It has worked out a deal with its lender BTMU Capital Corporation to extend a forbearance period from July 17 to Aug. 8. The company said that the deal also included provisions that would allow it access to cash to run its operations, but it seems that it will have to get rid of two of its brands – Bill Blass and Waverly - quickly to stay alive. The company has been setting the stage for the possible divestiture of the Bill Blass fashion house. It has paid out $425,000 in net liabilities for Bill Blass Couture, and it has forgiven its repayment of $950,000 it used for marketing in the first quarter of this year. Meanwhile, NexCen has named Darius Billings as its director of retail brand marketing and merchandising. His first priority will be to oversee a rebranding of The Athlete’s Foot. The chain is getting a makeover with a new merchandising system, a new retail format, a new logo and Athlete’s Foot branded apparel. Billings worked previously for AND1 and Nike. In his new job, he will report to Jennifer Johnston, the senior vice president for brand marketing at NexCen Franchise Management.