Accrington Stanley pay off tax debt to avoid winding-up order (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Accrington Stanley pay off tax debt to avoid winding-up order

5:09pm Wednesday 3rd February 2010 in

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ACCRINGTON Stanley avoided a second winding-up order in three months today by paying off a £78,000 tax debt with just hours to spare.

A judge at the High Court today dismissed the winding-up order after hearing the debt had been paid but ordered the club to pay around £1,000 in costs.

Club president Peter Marsden said the Reds could now look forward to a bright future having cleared its debt to the Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.

In November the club paid a £308,000 tax debt after a huge Save Our Stanley campaign was launched and fans helped fundraise.

Mr Marsden said the latest debt was paid to the court on Tuesday but said payment 'was never in doubt'.

He said the debt related to a two-month period around August when tax was not paid and came before the new management, led by new chairman Ilyas Khan, took control of the club.

Mr Marsden said: “As of today we are the most up to date we have ever been in the history of the club in paying our tax.

"I am sure that HMRC are delighted with everything the club has done to remedy this situation.

“We now go forward with certainty in our ability to meet our HMRC payments in the future.

“Now our tax blues are well and truly behind us we hope we can now focus on events on the pitch.”

Speaking last month when the winding-up order was issued, Mr Khan said he believed the court action was as a result of December’s tax bill.

Today the club chairman and benefactor was unavailable for comment.

However, Mr Marsden stressed the bill actually related to the two-month period in the summer.