Vics can look forward at last after judge dismisses petition

1:25pm Thursday 15th May 2008

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NORTHWICH Victoria could have gone out of business as recently as last month.

The Guardian understands that the club's new owners reached agreement with one outstanding creditor, claiming to be owed thousands of pounds, to remove the threat of closure.

As a result a winding up petition against the Blue Square Premier outfit was finally withdrawn yesterday, Wednesday, 10 months after it was first laid.

HM Revenue and Customs petitioned to wind up Northwich Victoria Football Club (2004) Limited last July, claiming it was owed more than £500,000 in unpaid taxes.

The UK's tax department agreed a deal with a consortium led by Jim Rushe and Nick Bone in the last week of November and the duo bought the club the following week.

They pledged to make an initial down payment, followed by monthly instalments over the next three years to settle Vics' debt.

However, while satisfying the taxman, that appears not to have permitted the pair to focus fully on the club's future.

Until now, that is.

During a brief hearing at London's High Court of Justice yesterday morning, Mr Registrar Nicholls was told an accord to pay off all the club's debts was now in place.

He then dismissed the winding up petition, along with another laid against Vics' Blue Square Premier rivals Crawley Town.

While assuring the club's future in non league football's top tier, it means a legal line can finally be drawn under Mike Connett's three year tenure as owner.