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Points penalty fear for Ilkeston Town
Ilkeston Town fans have been warned their club could be close to a ten-point deduction as cash problems mount at the New Manor Ground.
The message came from manager Kevin Wilson who outlined the risk of the points penalty, which would be imposed if the Conference North club went into administration.
The club is trying to avoid the FA punishment as it seeks a deal with Revenue and Customs over 47,000 of unpaid tax which has landed it in the High Court. The case has been adjourned until next week.
Chairman Gary Hodder told a fans' forum he had been in talks with a possible buyer and said: "If you are a custodian, you have to act in the best interests of the club and nothing else. We have got to keep believing."
He said the tax authorities had become "slightly aggressive" over the debt left by previous owners but praised the fans and said: "Supporters are high on the agenda. No, I change that, they are top of the agenda."
While chief executive at Northampton Town, he said the debts had been about 600,000 and told the forum: "The figure didn't deter."
Mr Hodder said he had been working hard to find fresh backers and went on: "Not one entrepreneur or business has come out of the woodwork and said 'we will help you.'"
The club's only major sponsor is Ilkeston car firm Ron Brooks, who agreed a two-year deal and has its name on the players' shirts.
While club officials have not disclosed the total debt, they described it as "substantial." It includes bills which are not part of the High Court action.
When the club was owned by the late Paul Millership, it raised nearly 100,000 annually with gate takings, sponsorship, advertising around the ground and in the programme. But even that meant Mr Millership had to put in 150,000-a-year to keep it going. Since then, gates have declined but running costs are estimated at about 6,000 weekly.
The forum was told that last season's finances received a 65,000 boost from a FA Cup run and the sale of winger Sam Duncum to Eastwood Town.
Wilson, who was not paid during the summer, praised the chairman and told the meeting he hoped some good could come from the crisis, which has led to him being forced to use only 16 players.
On the prospect of the FA oints penalty, he told fans: "It's better to happen now than to lose ten points at Easter. It's a minefield but if we have to lose those points we have got to survive. The club has to be run like a business. People have got to be realistic and know you could lose those ten points. But you can't go down a league.
"I still believe there will be light at the end of the tunnel. This is a time we all need to stay strong and I believe we will get up the league."
Kevin Wilson spoke passionately about the need to stabilise Ilkeston Town as the club faced a deepening cash and injury crisis.
He was forced to field injured strikers Amari Morgan-Smith and Gary Ricketts to avoid a fine and ensure that Monday's match was played.
For the second match on the trot, he could only name one substitute instead of the five permitted. Gainsborough Trinity ran out 5-2 winners and eight players will face fitness tests before Saturday's visit of Eastwood Town, kick-off 3pm.
Worried Wilson said: "This is the hardest situation I've been in, over 30 years as a player or manager. My hands are tied but everybody has got to stand up and be counted to keep it going. This is a great club with great supporters."
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Weather for Ilkeston
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: -1 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South west
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Light snow
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