Hartlepool have said a winding-up order is being withdrawn after their outstanding tax bill was paid by a fan who set up a fundraising campaign to save the club.
The National League club, who are up for sale, had been issued with a prospective court date as HMRC looked to recover a payment understood to amount to £48,000. However, that danger has passed after Rachel Cartwright, who set up a Just Giving page as the depth of the club’s problems emerged, handed over the money.
A statement issued via the club’s website, said: “We can confirm that Rachel Cartwright, who set up the Just Giving fundraising page for the club, has now paid the outstanding HMRC debt. HMRC have confirmed that they will cancel the serving of the winding-up petition and the process to withdraw the winding-up order is under way. Once again we would like to thank Rachel and all of the fans and community for their generosity of spirit, time and money to support the club.”
The appeal page has raised more than £84,000, with football fans from around the world contributing.
The news came after it emerged on Wednesday that Hartlepool had become the subject of a police investigation into potential financial irregularities. In a statement the club said the police had responded “to a request by the club” and no one involved in the current regime was the subject of investigation.
Hartlepool, relegated from League Two last season following 96 years in the Football League, are seeking a new owner. They suffered a setback when Chris Musgrave, a local businessman, recently withdrew his interest after studying the finances.
The picture is hardly much rosier on the pitch where Craig Harrison’s team are 18th in the National League, four points above of the relegation zone. The players’ wages and the club’s monthly running costs were recently met thanks to the efforts of supporters in answering an appeal to raise around £200,000.
“Police are responding to a request by the club and nobody currently involved [with us] is the subject of any investigation,” the Hartlepool statement added. Meanwhile the board say it is pursuing “various expressions of interest” from assorted parties considering a takeover.