Embattled football club Portsmouth FC have been slapped with a winding-up petition by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
The Championship side – whose parent company entered administration in November – is facing a £1.6m unpaid tax bill.
It comes after Italian businessman Joseph Cala – the reported frontrunner to snap up the club – dropped out of the race.
In a statement HMRC said: “Ensuring tax is paid on time should be at the centre of a football club’s business strategy just as it should be for any other enterprise.
“Any business that regards paying tax as an optional extra after other expenses are met, or that uses tax collected from employees or customers as working capital, is potentially heading for trouble.
“It is only fair to those clubs and to other taxpayers who do meet their obligations that HMRC enforces payment of tax debts owed – and if need be, issues a winding up petition or seeks to appoint an administrator.”
Club chief executive David Lampitt told BBC Radio Solent the club had failed to meet their last two tax payments of £800,000.
Administrator Andrew Andronikou had previously told Insolvency News he was optimistic a new owner for the club would soon be secured.
But Andronikou is yet to comment on the latest development and the club – nicknamed Pompey – has not returned any calls for comment.
By Andy Pearce
.jpg)
Subscribe to Insolvency Today