Tax debts lead to club's demise

King's Lynn has had at least one football club since before 1879

The future of a Norfolk football club looks precarious after it was wound up by a High Court judge with more than £65,000 of unpaid taxes.

King's Lynn FC's chairman Ken Bobbins told the court it had already paid £40,000 of the tax bill.

But the court granted a request by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs to make a compulsory order winding up the club, saying it is "woefully insolvent".

It means the club's affairs will be handed over to an Official Receiver.

This will ensure that debts are paid off by selling any assets available and then bringing business to a close.

Dramatic change

Mr Bobbins told the High Court judge that things had changed "dramatically" over the past week.

He said that one of the club directors had undertaken to finance repayment of the debt, but on 19 November he said he was "reneging on this verbal agreement".

Mr Bobbins continued: "That left the club three days in which to turn this around."

We have been left stranded by somebody who was talking to the tax inspectors and said he would pay them

Ken Bobbins, club chairman

He said he had a letter from West Norfolk Council, the owners of the team's ground, who had pledged to provide support for the club, possibly by handing over the stadium so that it could be sold for profit.

He added: "We have already paid £40,000 towards this bill. We would not have taken this step if we didn't intend to pay the debt, that would be ridiculous.

"We are fully committed to paying the debt.

"We have been left stranded by somebody who was talking to the tax inspectors and said he would pay them. He has reneged for whatever reason."

However, lawyers for the Revenue argued that the club is "clearly insolvent".

Making the winding up order, the Registrar told Mr Bobbins: "Although I sympathise...I do think it is appropriate to make the usual compulsory order."

However, giving the club a ray of hope, she said that if some arrangement is reached with the council, it will be possible for it to apply to have the winding up order rescinded.