VICS: Hour by hour updates

3:45pm Tuesday 16th October 2007

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IT'S been a dramatic week in the history of Northwich Victoria.

Our clockwatch feature will give regular updates on Vics' plight up to next Wednesday's hearing at the High Court in London:

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Wednesday October 17
11.30am
HR Revenue and Customs confirm they are seeking a two-week adjournment of today's winding-up petition hearing.

This is in response to Mike Connett's announcement yesterday, Tuesday, that he intends to apply for an administration order against Northwich Victoria Football Club (2004) Limited.

That hearing has been pencilled in for October 26.

HM Revenue and Customs will almost certainly be granted that adjournment, which could be for up to 28 days.

That allows time for the consortium, led by Manchester businessman Jim Rushe, to continue talks with the taxman over Vics' £350,000 debt.

Tuesday October 16
3.15pm
A DAY of silence from the consortium is punctured by a statement from Mike Connett confirming he intens to apply to put the club into administration.

If successful, the club will not be wound up at the High Court tomorrow morning.

"We are working tirelessly to save this football club," he said.

For the full story click here

10am
DINO Maamria has his players in for their first training session of the week.

Injured Simon Heslop is not there and is likely to return to Championship side Barnsley after a month on loan at the Victoria Stadium.

Meanwhile Simon Rusk has agreed to extend his temporary stay at Rushden & Diamonds by another month, according to Vics.

Monday October 15
3pm
JIM Rushe says negotiations are no further on with HM Revenue and Customs.

He told the Guardian he had been in meetings all day today, Monday.

"We are no further on from Thursday," he said.

"But there is no panic just yet as number crunching takes time.

"Rest assured when we have something to say we'll say it."

1pm
VICS will face Southport in the FA Cup should they survive that long.

Click here for the full story

10am
THE Guardian has tried to contact both Ian Campbell and Jim Rushe for an update on how negotiations are going with HM Revenue and Customs, but so far the pair have not returned our calls.

The group are thought to be applying for Vics to go into administration, which will then give them the power to negotiate a deal with HM Revenue and Customs.

They need to persuade the taxman that they are capable of paying of a portion of the club's tax bill.

The most likely outcome is that they force an adjournment to Wednesday's court hearing.

Saturday October 13
7.30pm
VICS hold Exeter to a goalless draw in a low-key match.

Lee Steele spurns Vics' best chance, while Ryan Brown thwarts the Grecians with a goalline clearance in injury time.

Click here for text commentary from the game

5pm
MIKE Connett denies rumours he has agreed to sell the Victoria Stadium to Manchester United.

The Vics owner had been spotted deep in conversation with the Red Devils' chief executive David Gill on Friday.

"I have never spoken to David Gill about that," he told Setanta Sports. "The ground is not for sale, it's the pension fund for both myself and my family as I've always said."

10am
THE supporters' trust respond to Mike Connett's statement on Thursday, saying the town does want Vics as its team.

"The people of Northwich have sustained a club at this level for 27 of the past 28 years," they said in a statement.

Click here for the full story

Friday October 12
1pm
TEMPORARY Vics boss unveils two new players ahead of tomorrow's Blue Square Premier clash with Exeter City.

Ebbsfleet goalkeeper Scott Tynan and former Rushden & Diamonds winger Danny Williams trained with their new Vics teammates this morning.

Click here for the full story

10am
VICS fans have spent the morning trying to come to terms with news their club may be saved after all.

Both the independent supporters' trust and the official supporters' club were promised places on a new board by Jim Rushe at last night's public meeting.

As for on the pitch, Rushe admitted the current wage bill (around £8,000 a week), would need to be cut should his consortium take over the club.

"The club would need to cut its own cloth," he said. "That means expenditure will be cut to what we can afford.

Meanwhile Messrs Rushe and Campbell are not returning calls from the press.

Thursday October 11
11.30pm
JIM Rushe stuns supporters at the Floatel with an announcement that he and four others have struck a deal to buy Northwich Victoria.

"We shook hands with Mike Connett earlier tonight," he said.

Click here for the full story

3.15pm
MIKE Connett issues a statement for the first time since news broke that Vics could go out of business.

In it, he pleads for any potential investor to come forward now if the club is to have any chance of surviving beyond next Wednesday morning.

"The club's finances are in a desperate state," he said.

Click here for the full story

3pm
BEGBIES Traynor say there has been no interest in buying the club from outside parties.

"The club is still looking for a buyer," said spokesman Paul Stanley.

He urged any potential investors to contact chairman Mike Connett.

That is the only way Vics can avoid their fate being sealed at the High Court on Wednesday.

But they will need a promise of substantial investment to satisfy the court that they can meet their commitments to HM Revenue and Customs, to whom they reportedly owe more than £350,000.

11am
VICS supporters have been busy emailing Manchester United, whose reserve team play at the Victoria Stadium, about the plight of their football club.

The Premiership giants, who take on their counterparts from Liverpool tonight, Thursday, have emailed a response

"The club is aware of recent events surrounding Northwich Victoria and is monitoring the situation closely."

10am
RUMOURS that Northwich Victoria's Blue Square Premier clash with Exeter City is to be called off appear premature.

The Guardian has spoken to Setanta Sports this morning, Thursday.

"The game is still on our schedule at the moment," said spokesman Richard Tompkins. "Of course that can change, but I have no information that will happen at the moment.

Vics' opponents are still making preparations for a trip up to Cheshire.

"I received a fax from club secretary Derek Nuttall last week," said Grecian's spokesman Sally Cook.

"That was finalising arrangements for the game and I have heard nothing since to suggest we won't be playing."

A third call to the Football Conference, the company that runs the Blue Square Premier, has returned the same result.

"We have heard nothing from the club so can't possibly comment," was all a spokesman was prepared to say.

Wednesday October 10
10am
PRESTON North End recall goalkeeper Andy Murphy from his loan spell at the Victoria Stadium.

The shot stopper has played just three matches since switching from Deepdale in the summer.

Click here for the full story

Tuesday October 9
10pm
VICS are on the wrong end of a 4-1 thrashing against rampant Forest Green Rovers.

Blue Square Premier top scorer Stuart Fleetwood scores a brace as Jim Harvey's men show no mercy to the league's basement club.

Their winless streak stretches to 15 matches.

Forest Green Rovers 4 Vics 1

1.30pm
THE Guardian goes to press with no comment from Vics chairman Mike Connett, who has still to return from his holiday.

"It's a hopeless cause," says Peter Grimes, chairman of Northwich Victoria Supporters' Trust.

Click here for the full story

10.10am
THE Guardian calls the Victoria Stadium to ask to speak to Mike Connett. "He's still not back from his holiday," said general manager Dave Thomas.

Monday October 8
2.30pm
MANCHESTER corporate rescue specialists Begbies Traynor continue their quest to find a buyer for the 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."

10.30am
A CALL to the Blue Square Premier press office in Birmingham to ask for the league's take on Vics' off the field problems is met with a 'no comment' reply.

Saturday October 6
5pm
VICS crash back to the bottom of the Blue Square Premier after losing 2-0 at Weymouth.

Lee Steele returns as a second half substitute after six weeks on the sidelines, but he can't help his teammates avoid their 12th defeat of the season.

Weymouth 2 Vics 0

Friday October 5
7.45pm
VICS will have to reform as a new club in a lower division.

That's the view of independent fan group Northwich Victoria Supporters' Trust after learning that the club's debt now totals hundreds of thousands of pounds.

"It appears to be the only realistic option in front of us," said trust chairman Peter Grimes tonight, Friday, on Cheshire FM's football phone-in programme.

Click here for the full story

4pm
THE club are plunged into a new crisis as HM Revenue and Customs' petition to wind up the club is published in the London Gazette.

The UK's tax collection department sets an October 17 deadline for Vics to find a sum of money rumoured to total hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Click here for the full story

11:50am
DINO Maamria secures a loan deal with Stockport County to borrow two of their promising youngsters.

Teenagers James Tunnicliffe and Chris Coward make it to the Victoria Stadium in time to catch the bus to Weymouth.

Click here for the full story