ACCRINGTON Stanley were today given a final week to repay the £308,000 unpaid tax bill.

However, a judge at London's High Court warned the club, which had been given further time to settle its debts in the past andnot done so, that this was literally the last chance.

"Having regard to the number of adjournments I will give you seven days - that is the 4th of November - and mark it absolutely final.

"The petition debt must be paid in full," said Mr Registrar Simmonds.

He refused to give the club the two week's breathing space that their lawyers had asked for.

The judge had been told by lawyers for Her Majesties Revenue and Customs that the debt at the centre of the winding up moves was for £308,000.

The lawyer added that he understood the club had additional debts of £127,000.

However, the club's lawyer told the judge that £96,000 had been electronically transferred this morning to HMRC and that an additional £100,000 had been pledged by the Professional Football Association.

He said that in addition, shareholder Ilyas Khan had personally undertaken to settle the balance.

The £96,000 official figure repaid is less than the £116,000 Stanley bosses say they had raised via the community fundraising campaign.

In addition, it contradicts the words of Chief Executive Rob Heys who yesterday told the Lancashire Telegraph more than £200,000 had been repaid.

Had the club been compulsorily wound up, it would have effectively handed over the club's affairs to an Official Receiver.

His job would then be to do his best to ensure that debts are paid off by selling any assets available and then bringing business to a close.