Cambridge Rugby Club players not paid for September

Cambridge players have been told they will not receive their pay for September until the club is stabilised.

The National League One side face a winding-up petition after it was revealed they owe HM Revenue and Customs £225,000.

Chairman Ian Wilson has also announced his resignation from the club.

Steve Bowller, the man behind the bid to save the club, told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire: "The players took it on the chin and understand the situation."

He added: "I felt it was really important they knew that they would not be getting their pay for September ahead of one of the biggest games in the club's league history with Coventry."

The club is set to appear in the High Court on 10 November after failing to pay tax and national insurance contributions for the whole of the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons.

The current debt does not include missed payments for July, August and September this year.

All we're asking is for 125 supporters and friends of the club to give us £2,000. If we can do that we're out of jail

Former committee member Steve Bowller

Bowller is heading up an organisation called Cambridge RUFC 1923 Club with the view of raising the necessary funds to save the club.

"We were pretty shocked when we found out the taxman had been issuing a winding-up petition," he said.

"But I think people were aware that the club has faced financial difficulties for quite some time."

Bowller, a former committee member, is hopeful the club can gather enough money to open discussions with HMRC.

"We've had positive reaction from so many people, to the point where we have somebody on the west coast of the United States who has pledged a substantial amount of money," he added.

"All we're asking is for 125 supporters and friends of the club to give us £2,000. If we can do that we're out of jail."

Wilson has been joined in leaving the club by committee members Eamon McCourt and Clody Johnson and an extraordinary general meeting will be called in the coming weeks to elect replacements.

On the field Cambridge have made a solid start to the season under director of rugby Bob Crooks.

The Wests Renault Park side sit fourth in the table after four matches.