Halifax Town became a victim of staggering tax debts as nearly 100 years of football at the club ended yesterday.
The Shaymen's creditors rejected a deal to save the club on Wednesday and then on Friday came the bombshell that the taxman was owed £800,000, a massive £300,000 more than previously thought, making liquidation almost inevitable.
Creditors Roy Bar
nett, of R M Barnett Ltd, and Gary Pearson, of Jacamast Ltd, two Huddersfield firms owed around £200,000 each for work on the half-built East Stand eight years ago, both refused to accept an offer of 2.5p in the pound from David Bosomworth's consortium at the creditors' meeting in midweek.
That forced an adjournment until yesterday when it emerged that the Inland Revenue was owed £800,000.
The taxman always votes against any salvage deal meaning that even if all the other creditors accepted it was not enough.
That left liquidation as the only option and administrator Rob Sadler, of Leeds-based Begbies Traynor, said the £2m-plus debts were "insurmountable" and added: "Halifax Town will probably perish."
Stunned boss Chris Wilder, who led the club to within 10 minutes of a return to the Football League in the play-off final against Hereford in 2006, said despite yesterday's sad news he had no regrets in turning down a three-year contract at Cambridge 18 months ago.
"I had the chance to leave but I stayed loyal and I am proud of my efforts," said Wilder, pictured. "Not many managers survive at one club for six years."
If the Shaymen fold and start again it could be in the UniBond League or the Northern Counties East League, alongside local rivals Brighouse Town.
Wilder accused Calderdale Council of letting the club and the town down by failing to invest in the stadium.
The council owns the Shay and leases it to a Trust and both the football club and Halifax RLFC pay £4,000 a month in rent.
The full article contains 335 words and appears in EP Leeds First & County newspaper.
