National League side Macclesfield Town have been given a compulsory winding-up order by the High Court due to debts of more than £500,000. The Silkmen, who were relegated from League Two last season after receiving three points deductions across the campaign, which eventually took their points total below that of Stevenage, become the second club in the North West in the last year to have to cease playing after Bury were kicked out of the Football League in 2019.
However, financial issues also persist at Wigan Athletic, who were placed into administration earlier this summer which led to their relegation to League One.
Macclesfield Town Given Compulsory Winding-Up Order
The Case
Despite the club’s owner, Amar Alkadhi, asking for an eight-week adjournment, the order was issued by Judge Sebastian Prentis during a hearing in the Insolvency and Companies Court. This was after he was told that £190,000 was owed in tax.
As well, former manager John Askey’s solicitor was told that he was owed £173,000 – the same sum owed to a financial lender.
Southend Survive for Now
Another club fighting for their survival is League Two side Southend United. They were relegated from League One last season and, were it not for Bolton Wanderers starting with a points deduction, they would have comfortably finished bottom of the table.
They started the 2020/21 season in poor fashion too, fielding close to a youth side against Harrogate Town and losing 4-0 in what was the visitors’ first-ever match in the Football League.
Southend’s case was also heard this morning at the High Court – they have debts not too far shy of Macclesfield’s. The club owes £493,000 to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.
However, Judge Prentis allowed the club a further 42 days to deal with returns and full settlement, and they will be heard next on October 28, 2020.
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