25/11/09

Lewes FC have been given more time to pay their outstanding debt following today's appointment at the High Court.

September's original Winding Up petition from the HMRC, which was adjourned for three months, was heard again this morning but adjourned for a second time until January 13th 2010.

Lewes owner Martin Elliott submitted a proposal to the court, which the judge accepted, that ties the club down to continuing monthly repayments of £10k, but with the winding up petition still hanging over the club.

Elliott told The Argus: " “We keep battling on. We are getting there in lots of ways. We are delighted the adjournment gives us more time to pay back HMRC and other debts as well."

“We now have to sit down and decide what we do before January 13 in terms of how much of it we pay back. One thing is for sure, if we don’t make any payment we will be toast.”

The Rooks have cut the original debt of £107k by over half since the first hearing, but the HMRC were demanding the club repay the remaining £47k in full or bring it down to £27k when they would cancel the winding up petition.