Lewes settle taxman debt to secure immediate future
LEWES Football Club look set to avoid tomorrow's High Court appearance after settling their debt with the taxman.
The club sent off the remaining sum owed, close to 48,000 yesterday afternoon after a frantic few days of raising the money.
They were due to appear in the High Court tomorrow (Wednesday) for a third hearing, having had two further adjournments, with HM Revenue and Customs expected to push for the club to be wound-up.
The money was raised largely through donations from individuals affiliated with the club as well as long-term interest free loans.
Rooks manager Steve Ibbitson believes the club would have gone into liquidation had they not found the money in full in time, and now the club is waiting for confirmation of payment.
Ibbitson said: "We're still waiting for confirmation from the revenue office that they have had the money and are happy.
"I will only believe we are out of the woods when we get that but I've been told the right amount of money has been paid.
"We were given a shock towards the end of last week when our lawyer said he was sure the judge would side with HMRC.
"They call this a final hearing so there were only two real possibilities; we paid the money in full or we would go into liquidation."
"Luckily by that point we were close to having the amount and a few more donations tipped us over the line."
The latest payment is expected to be confirmed in the next couple of days and means the club will have paid off all of the 107,000 they owed the taxman.
Lewes still owe around 40,000 to trade creditors and Ibbitson said the club would now be looking to pay off its remaining debts.
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Weather for Lewes
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: East
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Temperature: 12 C to 22 C
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