Fans have been left concerned with National League South club Taunton Town reportedly given a winding up petition by HMRC this week.
Taunton Town South East Supporters (aka @TauntonTownSES) became aware of the news, tweeting: “I am a corporate solicitor in London, and also run this account.
“A screenshot was posted earlier today referring to a winding-up petition against @tauntontownfc. Several fans queried if it was genuine.
“I have logged onto the Court’s system tonight and confirm it is. See below…”
I am a corporate solicitor in London, and also run this account. A screenshot was posted earlier today referring to a winding-up petition against @tauntontownfc. Several fans queried if it was genuine.
I have logged onto the Court’s system tonight and confirm it is. See below: pic.twitter.com/TTM0HdkUyh
— Taunton Town South East Supporters (@TauntonTownSES) January 17, 2024
The Twitter user goes on to say: Some fans have queried why the petition does not appear in the London Gazette. A petition does not need to be “advertised” until 7 days before the hearing.
“This is understandably a very worrying development for @TauntonTownFC fans. If you have any questions, please post them below and I will do my best to answer them.”
When asked about the case relating to Taunton Town case, a spokesperson from HMRC said, as per Somerset County Gazette: “We take a supportive approach dealing with customers who have tax debts and only file winding up petitions once we have exhausted all other options in order to protect taxpayers’ money.”
His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs said while they’re unable to comment on individual cases, the winding-up petitions are only filed once “all other options” have been tried.
A winding-up petition is the legal process that can be used against a company to recover money that’s owed, with it no confirmed as to how much is owed, the one thing that fans are wanting to know.
If the debt can be paid in full then HMRC can end the process but a worst-case scenario could see Taunton Town go into liquidation.
A court hearing has yet to be scheduled with Somerset County Gazette reporting that the club are due to ‘issue a statement shortly’.
TAUNTON’S STATEMENT:
“We are aware of a lot of press speculation and obviously this can cause concern, we can confirm we owe no VAT as this was totally paid last week but we do have some pave outstanding with LRC.
“We have been in communication with HMRC for a while discussing the situation but have received no help or guidance from them.
“As a result we are in communication with the National League to help us liaise with LMRC to find a solution to this short term issue. No further statement will be made by the club.”
𝗖𝗹𝘂𝗯 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 | 𝗛𝗠𝗥𝗖
Taunton Town F.C can make the following statement regarding the current speculation about a Winding Up Petition put to the club.#UpThePeacocks 🦚 pic.twitter.com/eb2ziHAgBD
— Taunton Town FC (@TauntonTownFC) January 18, 2024
‘A short term issue’@TauntonTownFC have been reassuring fans after reports they’re facing a winding up petition#UpThePeacockspic.twitter.com/iCd24J0Dku
— Greatest Hits Radio News (@GHRNewsUK) January 19, 2024
This comes following a mass exodus at Taunton Town with players saying they’ve been ‘consistently lied to’.
A growing list of players have departed in the recent weeks with more imminent according to fans as they summarise what’s led to this.
@AlexReddick on Twitter writes that seven players have left Taunton in the past two weeks, while Non LeagueMatters user Swjoduk goes further into detail.
User ‘Swjoduk’ posts: “Players leaving left right and centre, 2 yesterday another 2 or 3 imminent, budget cut has meant it currently stands at 5 left in recent weeks. We may struggle to field a side Saturday. 2 have come back from loans and another has been signed but even if one doesn’t leave today he is suspended for Saturday and another broke their hand Boxing Day.
“Lots of talk of financial issues, mainly brought on by the recent rain and our pitch that doesn’t drain well as it is built of an old tip with a thick clay capping. We are 5 or 6 games behind some clubs and only around 3 league home games in 3 months or longer. Because the club house doesn’t opened other than matchdays and doesn’t function the only income we have is matchday revenue plus sponsorship, car park rental fees etc
“There is even some talk of applying for voluntary relegation which would mean a two division drop and back to the Southern Div 1 South!”
Read more on that HERE.
As mentioned, fans are left concerned with the National League South club reportedly given a winding up petition…
@SimonBest007: If only councils would invest some of our tax money into the sporting venues that desperately need investment instead of wasting money on colourful paths, wooden sculptures, obscene salaries for themselves. Wouldn’t this create a better, healthier community 🤷🏻♂️
@TerraStatman: Good grief. Hand to mouth finances at the moment by the looks of it! Extremely worrying.
@TottnumCake: Terrible news. Hope they can pull through this, is there anyway we can help them? Maybe a collective of fans from other teams in the league get their gate up for a few games?
@KingofSomerset: Crikey! 😮 Although I support @WSM_AFCOfficial, I always hope having lived and worked in the area for 30+ years, that Taunton Town do well too. And of course, my son has played for them at junior level. Let’s hope they can survive this 🤞 #Somerset @SomersetFA @MikeSRigby
@AdamAddicott: Oh god, this is far from ideal!
@DaveWBurnell: A very sad state of affairs which hopefully will be resolved soon. I’m sure that rained and frosted-off fixtures are not helping. Taunton needs and deserves a decent club so please support grass-roots football.
@edeninhooo: Well, there goes my local club…
@Dafydd_Nich: Not looking good for Taunton
@Woody200575: Awful statement. We are the subject of a winding up petition from HMRC and we need more than this rubbish.
@The_Goat_Gang: Doesn’t fill you with confidence. Not sure the #UpThePeacocks really captures the mood of this tweet either 👀😂
@OffTheLineBlog: Absolutely gutted for everyone @ #TauntonTown. A fabulous community club w/. some incredible people working for + supporting it. It’s been sad seeing the club struggle; I hope that they can sort out a resolution to secure the club’s future. 🦚 Fingers crossed, Peacocks!
@ForeverOUFC: sad to see, hope they can get things sorted, can’t be seeing another club go under
@SheridanRobins: Gosh. Just devastating.
Steve Hillen: So this is it winding up order has officially been issued!! Now we need some proper support and help if this Club is to be saved!! Been saying it for a long time tho you could see from last season we was being run incorrectly!!!
Paul Anthony: We’ve been run into the ground slowly over the past 6 years or so.
Nathan Bragg: unfortunately Sturmey, did that with his last business venture. As I said before, why oh why did someone think it was a good idea to give him a football club 🙄🙄
Steve Hillen: Paul Anthony we have progressed to quickly for are own good that’s what’s happened
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