Accrington Stanley fend off winding up order (From Blackburn Citizen)

Accrington Stanley fend off winding up order

1:00pm Tuesday 19th March 2013 in News

ACCRINGTON Stanley notched up their third ‘win’ of the last few days yesterday when the taxman formally accepted a £10,000 bill had been settled.

On Friday, the Store First stadium side’s February wages were paid in full, and the following day the Reds beat fellow strugglers Brentford.

Yesterday, at the High Court in London, the club, currently bottom of the Npower League Two table and facing relegation from the league, fended off an attempt by the taxman to wind it up.

Registrar Baister formally dismissed the petition brought by HM Revenue and Customs against the club, at the request of HMRC’s lawyers.

Had the club been compulsorily wound up, this would have handed over its affairs to an Official Receiver to sell off assets to pay debts, and close the business.

Stanley managing director Rob Heys said the weekend’s successes left players, and fans, free to concentrate on saving their season, and avoiding costly relegation.

He said: “It was a good weekend, with three wins for the club. We paid the wages in full on Friday, won a crucial game on Saturday, and on Monday the High Court formally accepted our tax affairs are in order.

“The club had actually paid the bill of a little over £10,000 a few weeks ago. The High Court hearing simply confirmed that. On Friday we paid the players the £10,000-plus wages we owed them. We are now in a position to pay our taxes and our players in time in future.

“The win against Barnet means that there are now five teams on 40 points at the bottom of the table.

“We can now concentrate on playing. We had 300 extra fans on Saturday and entry for tonight’s match against Wimbledon is only £5 for everyone. We need the fans, and the town, to get behind the club.”

An HMRC spokeswoman said: “We never comment on the tax affairs of individuals, or companies.”