Wycombe Wanderers chairman says High Court hearing nothing to worry about

Don Woodward Don Woodward

WANDERERS chairman Don Woodward has moved to reassure fans the club's upcoming High Court date is a formality and they have the funds to pay off an outstanding tax bill.

Yesterday the Bucks Free Press revealed HM Revenue and Customs has issued a winding up petition against the club after the Adams Park side fell behind with paying their taxes.

But Woodward said today the cash is there to satisfy the taxman - adding he won't attend the court date on March 25 because the situation is all in hand.

He said there was no reason to panic, with supporters worrying the hearing at London's High Court could be the first step towards a possible administration.

Woodward said: "HMRC have a procedure which they need to go through. A lot of things have happened since.

"It's part of a process and people need to understand that.

"Over the last few weeks we've been speaking about getting cash in the pot to catch up on everything.

"I'm confident we will get through things and raise the funds we'll require."

He added: "We won't go to the hearing - we'll sort things out before."

The taxman initiated winding up proceedings against Wanderers on February 11 but Woodward said the club had raised the necessary cash in the intervening period.

Selling the club's training ground had helped to raise the money which will pay off the tax bill, he said.

Woodward said the club also finally look set to secure the loan they have been looking for ever since the Wycombe Wanderers Trust took over the ownership in June from Steve Hayes.

He said: "We've had an offer and we hope that comes through. There's no reason why it shouldn't.

"It's taken longer to get the loan we set out to get the day we took over."

He said the loan consisted of 'a small amount' which would contribute towards the £600,000 the Trust originally said it needed when it took over in the summer.

Woodward said not being able to secure a loan meant Wanderers had had a lack of working capital to work with.

A plea for donations from fans last week would fill that gap, he said - adding supporters had already taken up that call to arms.

He said: "It supports the team and club and we've had lots of donations already.

"We suggested a nominal sum [£10] which people have quadrupled and more, which is fantastic. We've had an awful lot of people sign up already to give us some working capital.

"The club's aim is to break even next season. Once we're over our current short term issues, things are looking extremely rosy."

Meanwhile HMRC spoksman Patrick O'Brien said: "We are unable to discuss individual cases under any circumstances.

"Ensuring tax is paid in full and on time should be at the centre of football's business strategy just as it should be for any other enterprise.

"HMRC does not initiate winding up football clubs lightly, however we will not hesitate to do so when that is the right way to protect the country's tax revenues and other creditors."

Comments(19)

evenflo says...
9:03pm Tue 5 Mar 13

nostradamus predicts ..
the blues will pay off the hmrc bill
they wont go into administration or anything close
this comment section will be full of the usual merchants of doom and those desperate to see a reply to their post by launching into a poorly contrived polemic.
eerie eh,

geoffW says...
10:08pm Tue 5 Mar 13

"this comment section will be full of ,,, those desperate to see a reply to their post ..."

No biters yet then Evenflo? How desoerate are you to see a reply to your post!

Marmite XO says...
10:10pm Tue 5 Mar 13

This is good news. I was about to donate 200,000 to the blues until I read this story. No point now they are obviously in safe hands. Guess I'm off car shopping instead.

evenflo says...
10:31pm Tue 5 Mar 13

Marmite XO wrote:
This is good news. I was about to donate 200,000 to the blues until I read this story. No point now they are obviously in safe hands. Guess I'm off car shopping instead.
What are you getting a Corgi or a Dinky.

ImpeturbableLawrence says...
1:13am Wed 6 Mar 13

evenflo wrote:
nostradamus predicts ..
the blues will pay off the hmrc bill
they wont go into administration or anything close
this comment section will be full of the usual merchants of doom and those desperate to see a reply to their post by launching into a poorly contrived polemic.
eerie eh,
Actually … wait! (Lawrence looks mystic) ... I can hear a voice ... coming through from the Other Side … it’s NOSTRADAMUS!!

Nostradamus says … ooh it’s something angry about Steve Hayes and the council two years ago but I can’t understand what he’s saying!

evenflo says...
4:37am Wed 6 Mar 13

ImpeturbableLawrence wrote:
evenflo wrote:
nostradamus predicts ..
the blues will pay off the hmrc bill
they wont go into administration or anything close
this comment section will be full of the usual merchants of doom and those desperate to see a reply to their post by launching into a poorly contrived polemic.
eerie eh,
Actually … wait! (Lawrence looks mystic) ... I can hear a voice ... coming through from the Other Side … it’s NOSTRADAMUS!!

Nostradamus says … ooh it’s something angry about Steve Hayes and the council two years ago but I can’t understand what he’s saying!
and i thought that mystic look was just trapped wind.

WycombeMan&Boy says...
6:58am Wed 6 Mar 13

But Woodward said today the cash is there to satisfy the taxman

I'M REALLY PLEASED TO READ THAT BUT WHY WASN'T THIS INCLUDED IN THE CLUB'S STATEMENT?
IT WOULD HAVE REMOVED THE NEED FOR SUPPORTERS LIKE ME TO VENT OUR FRUSTRATION AND MAKE CLAIMS OF MISMANAGEMENT.

Welwyn Dowd says...
8:15am Wed 6 Mar 13

The sad thing is that for a lot of poorly managed businesses they won't pay their debts unless threatened with prosecution. They bluff it out in the hope that their creditors won't start legal action and they can get away with not paying what they owe. The worst part of it is that the smaller debts, owed to the small organisations, will never be paid. How many small businesses have gone under, how many small business owners go bankrupt because of unpaid debts? Wycombe Wanderers, supporting the community, supporting local business - I don't think.

Flashheart says...
8:58am Wed 6 Mar 13

Linked to the possible pre-packed administration sale of Dreams, WWFC could lose the lucrative sponsorship money... Here's hoping that's not the case, but any corporate buy out will start saving the outgoings at the top of the expenses column ie sponsorship deals.
The club needs to be all over the proposed buyers and administrators like a penicillin proof rash to keep that money coming in for at least a couple more years as Wasps decide what to do...

Edgar Brooks says...
9:28am Wed 6 Mar 13

WycombeMan&Boy wrote:
But Woodward said today the cash is there to satisfy the taxman I'M REALLY PLEASED TO READ THAT BUT WHY WASN'T THIS INCLUDED IN THE CLUB'S STATEMENT? IT WOULD HAVE REMOVED THE NEED FOR SUPPORTERS LIKE ME TO VENT OUR FRUSTRATION AND MAKE CLAIMS OF MISMANAGEMENT.
What need? You come piling in, shouting your head off, while others have enough patience to wait for the full story. The only need was for you to go off half-cocked; try ascertaining some facts, next time.

WycombeMan&Boy says...
10:26am Wed 6 Mar 13

Edgar Brooks wrote:
WycombeMan&Boy wrote: But Woodward said today the cash is there to satisfy the taxman I'M REALLY PLEASED TO READ THAT BUT WHY WASN'T THIS INCLUDED IN THE CLUB'S STATEMENT? IT WOULD HAVE REMOVED THE NEED FOR SUPPORTERS LIKE ME TO VENT OUR FRUSTRATION AND MAKE CLAIMS OF MISMANAGEMENT.
What need? You come piling in, shouting your head off, while others have enough patience to wait for the full story. The only need was for you to go off half-cocked; try ascertaining some facts, next time.
Certainly not half cocked - The facts were not fully presented properly in the first place. This is exactly the same as the misleading info about the £200k owed by Wasps which has apparently been paid but has never been confirmed by WWFC.

Transparency actually does a lot to engender goodwill. If the informaiton is withheld and isn't provided clearly then assumptions will always be made.

As for shouting I don't think so, Upper Case was simply used to differentiate between part of a quote and my thoughts because comments cannot be edited to reproduce only the relevant bits.

To avoid that this time I've used the quote facility which isn't really necessary to provide a concise answer to your views.

norma stitz says...
6:05pm Wed 6 Mar 13

Welwyn Dowd wrote:
The sad thing is that for a lot of poorly managed businesses they won't pay their debts unless threatened with prosecution. They bluff it out in the hope that their creditors won't start legal action and they can get away with not paying what they owe. The worst part of it is that the smaller debts, owed to the small organisations, will never be paid. How many small businesses have gone under, how many small business owners go bankrupt because of unpaid debts? Wycombe Wanderers, supporting the community, supporting local business - I don't think.
Just the sort of ill informed post that so annoying.
How many small companies or businesses have WWFC made bankrupt through non payment that you know of?
They had no cash to pay the revenue, now they do, stupid.,

evenflo says...
8:17pm Wed 6 Mar 13

norma stitz wrote:
Welwyn Dowd wrote:
The sad thing is that for a lot of poorly managed businesses they won't pay their debts unless threatened with prosecution. They bluff it out in the hope that their creditors won't start legal action and they can get away with not paying what they owe. The worst part of it is that the smaller debts, owed to the small organisations, will never be paid. How many small businesses have gone under, how many small business owners go bankrupt because of unpaid debts? Wycombe Wanderers, supporting the community, supporting local business - I don't think.
Just the sort of ill informed post that so annoying.
How many small companies or businesses have WWFC made bankrupt through non payment that you know of?
They had no cash to pay the revenue, now they do, stupid.,
agreed norma i kinda predicted this comment in the first post. an ill informed throw away remark without any factual basis. all to common in the bfp comments. In particular those relating to WWFC and its trust whose only "crime" seems to be they want to run a family football club for the benefit of the local community .

ImpeturbableLawrence says...
12:49am Thu 7 Mar 13

evenflo wrote:
ImpeturbableLawrence wrote:
evenflo wrote:
nostradamus predicts ..
the blues will pay off the hmrc bill
they wont go into administration or anything close
this comment section will be full of the usual merchants of doom and those desperate to see a reply to their post by launching into a poorly contrived polemic.
eerie eh,
Actually … wait! (Lawrence looks mystic) ... I can hear a voice ... coming through from the Other Side … it’s NOSTRADAMUS!!

Nostradamus says … ooh it’s something angry about Steve Hayes and the council two years ago but I can’t understand what he’s saying!
and i thought that mystic look was just trapped wind.
Doesn't say much for you that you can't tell the difference between mystic and gastric convulsions.

ImpeturbableLawrence says...
12:52am Thu 7 Mar 13

WycombeMan&Boy wrote:
Edgar Brooks wrote:
WycombeMan&Boy wrote: But Woodward said today the cash is there to satisfy the taxman I'M REALLY PLEASED TO READ THAT BUT WHY WASN'T THIS INCLUDED IN THE CLUB'S STATEMENT? IT WOULD HAVE REMOVED THE NEED FOR SUPPORTERS LIKE ME TO VENT OUR FRUSTRATION AND MAKE CLAIMS OF MISMANAGEMENT.
What need? You come piling in, shouting your head off, while others have enough patience to wait for the full story. The only need was for you to go off half-cocked; try ascertaining some facts, next time.
Certainly not half cocked - The facts were not fully presented properly in the first place. This is exactly the same as the misleading info about the £200k owed by Wasps which has apparently been paid but has never been confirmed by WWFC.

Transparency actually does a lot to engender goodwill. If the informaiton is withheld and isn't provided clearly then assumptions will always be made.

As for shouting I don't think so, Upper Case was simply used to differentiate between part of a quote and my thoughts because comments cannot be edited to reproduce only the relevant bits.

To avoid that this time I've used the quote facility which isn't really necessary to provide a concise answer to your views.
Edgar -

FYI -

you can edit them in Word virtually anyway you want and if you use the quote button and highlight and copy save it on Word the quoted bit you can reproduce things like italic, quote, or block capitals.

ImpeturbableLawrence says...
12:53am Thu 7 Mar 13

WycombeMan&Boy wrote:
Edgar Brooks wrote:
WycombeMan&Boy wrote: But Woodward said today the cash is there to satisfy the taxman I'M REALLY PLEASED TO READ THAT BUT WHY WASN'T THIS INCLUDED IN THE CLUB'S STATEMENT? IT WOULD HAVE REMOVED THE NEED FOR SUPPORTERS LIKE ME TO VENT OUR FRUSTRATION AND MAKE CLAIMS OF MISMANAGEMENT.
What need? You come piling in, shouting your head off, while others have enough patience to wait for the full story. The only need was for you to go off half-cocked; try ascertaining some facts, next time.
Certainly not half cocked - The facts were not fully presented properly in the first place. This is exactly the same as the misleading info about the £200k owed by Wasps which has apparently been paid but has never been confirmed by WWFC.

Transparency actually does a lot to engender goodwill. If the informaiton is withheld and isn't provided clearly then assumptions will always be made.

As for shouting I don't think so, Upper Case was simply used to differentiate between part of a quote and my thoughts because comments cannot be edited to reproduce only the relevant bits.

To avoid that this time I've used the quote facility which isn't really necessary to provide a concise answer to your views.
Edgar -

FYI -

you can edit them in Word virtually anyway you want and if you use the quote button and highlight and copy save it on Word the quoted bit you can reproduce things like italic, quote, or block capitals.

ImpeturbableLawrence says...
12:53am Thu 7 Mar 13

Edgar Brooks wrote:
WycombeMan&Boy wrote:
But Woodward said today the cash is there to satisfy the taxman I'M REALLY PLEASED TO READ THAT BUT WHY WASN'T THIS INCLUDED IN THE CLUB'S STATEMENT? IT WOULD HAVE REMOVED THE NEED FOR SUPPORTERS LIKE ME TO VENT OUR FRUSTRATION AND MAKE CLAIMS OF MISMANAGEMENT.
What need? You come piling in, shouting your head off, while others have enough patience to wait for the full story. The only need was for you to go off half-cocked; try ascertaining some facts, next time.
Yeah - just calm down!

ImpeturbableLawrence says...
12:55am Thu 7 Mar 13

ImpeturbableLawrence wrote:
WycombeMan&Boy wrote:
Edgar Brooks wrote:
WycombeMan&Boy wrote: But Woodward said today the cash is there to satisfy the taxman I'M REALLY PLEASED TO READ THAT BUT WHY WASN'T THIS INCLUDED IN THE CLUB'S STATEMENT? IT WOULD HAVE REMOVED THE NEED FOR SUPPORTERS LIKE ME TO VENT OUR FRUSTRATION AND MAKE CLAIMS OF MISMANAGEMENT.
What need? You come piling in, shouting your head off, while others have enough patience to wait for the full story. The only need was for you to go off half-cocked; try ascertaining some facts, next time.
Certainly not half cocked - The facts were not fully presented properly in the first place. This is exactly the same as the misleading info about the £200k owed by Wasps which has apparently been paid but has never been confirmed by WWFC.

Transparency actually does a lot to engender goodwill. If the informaiton is withheld and isn't provided clearly then assumptions will always be made.

As for shouting I don't think so, Upper Case was simply used to differentiate between part of a quote and my thoughts because comments cannot be edited to reproduce only the relevant bits.

To avoid that this time I've used the quote facility which isn't really necessary to provide a concise answer to your views.
Edgar -

FYI -

you can edit them in Word virtually anyway you want and if you use the quote button and highlight and copy save it on Word the quoted bit you can reproduce things like italic, quote, or block capitals.
That should have been addressed to WycombeMan&Boy of course.

(Stuff about editing still makes sense however.)

evenflo says...
4:53am Thu 7 Mar 13

ImpeturbableLawrence wrote:
evenflo wrote:
ImpeturbableLawrence wrote:
evenflo wrote:
nostradamus predicts ..
the blues will pay off the hmrc bill
they wont go into administration or anything close
this comment section will be full of the usual merchants of doom and those desperate to see a reply to their post by launching into a poorly contrived polemic.
eerie eh,
Actually … wait! (Lawrence looks mystic) ... I can hear a voice ... coming through from the Other Side … it’s NOSTRADAMUS!!

Nostradamus says … ooh it’s something angry about Steve Hayes and the council two years ago but I can’t understand what he’s saying!
and i thought that mystic look was just trapped wind.
Doesn't say much for you that you can't tell the difference between mystic and gastric convulsions.
from the amount of hot air in your posts it looks like you've cleared the gastric blockage

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