Following Crystal Palace’s collapse into administration on Tuesday, at least four more football clubs are the subject of winding up petitions by HM Revenue & Customs.
Portsmouth FC, Cardiff City, Accrington Stanley and Notts County were all subject to petitions due for hearings towards the end of January or the beginning of February.
Crystal Palace yesterday announced it had fallen into administration after a season beset by financial difficulties. The Championship club is around £30m in debt and has failed to pay their players on time twice already.
Brendon Guilfoyle, Chris White and John Russell, of the P & A Partnership, who filled the same role with Luton Town in November 2007, have been appointed administrators, and will attempt to find a buyer. A statement from the Guilfoyle said: "Our role now is to find a buyer quickly to provide certainty for the employees, players and fans for the future."
Portsmouth persude by HMRC
Portsmouth City Football Club has had two winding up orders issued against it, one from HMRC and another from two private companies including Grosvenor Basingstoke Properties, and both orders are due for a court hearing on 10 February. Legal firm Nabarro is acting on behalf of Grosvenor.
A statement from Portsmouth said: "The owner, the board and associates would like to assure fans that they are confident this matter will be resolved in our favour."
HMRC has also issued petitions against Cardiff City Football Club, Accrington Stanley Football Club, Notts County’s parent company Blenheim 1862 and Crystal Palace FC 2000.
Cardiff City’s fate will be decided on 10 February and Accrington Stanley’s on 2 February. Crystal Palace and Portsmouth are expected to attend separate hearings today.
A statement from Cardiff City said: "We have every confidence that all monies owing to HMRC will have been repaid before the end of January."
Notts County chairman Peter Trembling said the club is in talks with potential investors and is doing "everything possible" to ensure club finances are put on a stable footing.