AFC Telford bosses call for apology over HMRC winding-up petition blunder
Angry AFC Telford United chiefs were today expecting an apology over the administrative blunder they claim saw the club wrongly hit with a winding-up petition.
Bosses at the New Bucks Head were left stunned on Friday night when the club appeared on today's court schedules to answer the petition, which was lodged by HM revenue and customs over alleged non-payment of VAT.
Chairman Ian Dosser said the board has spent the weekend poring through the documents and is satisfied the incident is the fault of a mix-up at HMRC.
A strongly-worded statement, posted on the club's official website on Saturday, explained how the Bucks were first notified of the winding-up petition on October 29 but believed the situation had been resolved by a phone conversation.
Officials insist the petition was in any case "wrongly-instigated" and that at no point had they failed to pay VAT. Tellingly, no notice of the petition was placed in the London Gazette.
The club statement read: "We learnt last night that the club is subject to a winding up petition incorrectly instigated by HMRC. The club were notified of this on 29th October, in a hand delivered letter from HMRC and the club signed to acknowledge receipt of the letter.
"The club immediately contacted HMRC the same day 29th October and HMRC acknowledged in that phone conversation that the club had already paid the VAT debt. HMRC agreed that no notice would be entered into the Gazette (we believe that no notice has been issued) and the court hearing would be cancelled.
"We have today requested in the strongest possible terms to HMRC that they issue a statement to advise that the debt was cleared, that in error they didn't cancel the court hearing and that they immediately cancel the court hearing scheduled for Monday 7th December."
Though confident the situation will be resolved, club officials were prepared to travel to court in London this morning if necessary.
And they are furious at an error which, while not their fault, has added another worrying episode to what has been a hugely unhappy season at the New Bucks Head.
HMRC said it was unable to comment on individual cases.
Relegated from the National League Premier last term, Telford presently sit bottom of the National League North, while the club's financial fortunes have also been in the headlines.
Members of the supporter-owned are set to vote later this month on whether to explore possibility of selling shares as a means to boost the coffers.
