THE FINAL WHISTLE (From Northwich Guardian)

THE FINAL WHISTLE

4:05pm Wednesday 10th October 2007

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THE town's biggest football club could go out of business in just seven days.

Northwich Victoria, one of the game's most famous names with more than 130 years of history, owes more than £350,000 in unpaid taxes.

We have come in at the 11th hour to put together some form of rescue package.

Paul Stanley, of corporate recovery specialist Begbies Traynor

Owner Mike Connett needs to find the money by next Wednesday, October 17, when he is due to appear at London's High Court of Justice.

"We see little hope of surviving without a financial miracle," said Peter Grimes, chairman of independent fan group Northwich Victoria Supporters' Trust.

"The club need to find hundreds of thousands of pounds in a week, it's a hopeless cause."

HM Revenue and Customs petitioned to wind up Northwich Victoria Football Club (2004) Ltd in July, but its request was only made public on Thursday.

The company formed when the old one - Northwich Victoria Football Club Company Ltd - went out of business two years ago.

Mr Connett has been on holiday since Friday and had not returned at the time of going to press yesterday, Tuesday. Nobody else at the Victoria Stadium was prepared to comment.

Meanwhile Manchester corporate recovery specialist Begbies Traynor is trying to find a buyer for the struggling club.

"We have come in at the 11th hour to put together some form of rescue package," said spokesman Paul Stanley.

"Potential investors have been in touch but none has come up with a firm proposal."

Vics have no assets to help pay their debt because their ground and the surrounding land are owned by another of Mr Connett's companies, Beaconet.

If nobody comes forward the club will be liquidated and kicked out of the Blue Square Premier - the top tier of non-league football in England.

Officials at HM Revenue and Customs and the Football Conference, the company that runs the Blue Square Premier, declined to comment ahead of next week's scheduled court hearing.

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