NORTHWICH Victoria faces being kicked out of its league for a second successive summer after the club was accused of taking too long to exit administration.

The Blue Square North outfit has received two letters from the Football Conference in the past seven days warning that a deadline to pay their debts in full loomed.

It passed on Saturday.

“There’s no surprise here,” said Vics’ owner Jim Rushe.

“Like last time we do not accept the league’s opinion that the club has broken any rules. On the contrary, we believe it’s been made impossible for us to move forward.”

The Guardian understands that the notes posted to the Victoria Stadium do not mention what punishment Vics might face.

League bosses believe Northwich are in breach of the competition’s now infamous Appendix E, which says clubs will be expelled – or ‘not eligible for membership’ to use the Conference’s words – if they are in administration and fail to exit without settling debts with creditors in full by the second Saturday in May.

Before Christmas Rushe offered to pay back around half of the club’s six-figures debt through a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA).

The tax man, owed the biggest sum, and other businesses waiting for bills to be paid accepted.

Rushe has since delayed asking the FA to rubber stamp the deal until the Conference made clear its position, but the league’s board preferred to wait until the end of the season to respond.

It insists ‘full payment’ means 100p in every pound owed.

Vics, unsurprisingly, disagree.

“We believe that even with a CVA we comply with what the rule says,” added Rushe following a meeting with administrator Gary Pettit on Monday.

Football Conference general manager Dennis Strudwick told the Guardian that the league had been helpful to Northwich.

“Although under no obligation to do so the Football Conference sent two courteously-worded and timely reminders to the club last week,” he said.

“I sent a copy to the administrator too so he knew exactly what was required, advising compliance with Appendix E was needed by the second Saturday in May.”

Pettit, from Northampton-based insolvency experts Marshman Price, has already replied in writing.

He said: “It’s prudent not to say too much at the moment, suffice to say our view is different to that of the league.

“It’s too early to say what might happen next although it’s fair to say there is a degree of uncertainty surrounding everything.”

Northwich Victoria Football Club (2004) Ltd, the company that pays the players’ wages, has been in administration since May 15 last year.

Pettit said a firm set up by Rushe in October 2007, The Northwich Victoria Football Club (2007) Ltd, remains ready to buy the club.

It would then take on the responsibility of paying remaining debts in monthly instalments over a fixed period.

“The period of administration ends automatically on Friday so the club will come out [of administration] regardless,” he added.

Meanwhile the Conference board is due to meet later today, Wednesday, when Northwich’s case is likely to feature high on the agenda.