Cambridge Rugby Club is confident it has raised the £225,000 needed to fend off a winding-up order.

A campaign called The 1923 Club claims it has satisfied HM Revenue & Customs by raising £150,000, with the remaining £75,000 coming from a bank loan.

Steve Bowller, from the campaign, told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire: "There's a bit of paperwork to get sorted out."

A court hearing set for Wednesday has been adjourned to allow the National One outfit to complete the deal.

"That won't be done in time for the hearing on Wednesday," Bowller added.

"But HMRC have agreed to an adjournment while the paperwork is sorted out and basically that's hurdle one down."

There's a lot of people out there who thought we were dead in the water, but we've proved we can do it 1923 Club leader Steve Bowller

The club had amassed the debt after failing to pay tax and national insurance contributions for the whole of the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons.

As a result players and staff have not received their wages since September this year, and Bowller has asked for continued financial support to keep the team afloat throughout the remainder of the campaign.

"We've got to look after them now, and that's why we've got to keep the momentum going and look after the boys," he said.

"There's a lot of people out there who thought we were dead in the water, but we've proved we can do it.

"It's a reflection on the effort of everybody here, it's quite outstanding."

Despite their off-field problems the 'Blood and Sand' - as the club is nicknamed - sit second in the National One table, five points adrift of leaders Barking.

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