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Swindon Town will close early next week if the ongoing takeover talks are not resolved by the weekend.
Press reports say that HMRC, the old Inland Revenue, will issue a winding up order over £1.9million in unpaid taxes early next week with the proposed takeover having missed several 'announcement' dates.
The takeover, led by local businessman Andrew Fitton, was due to be completed on Monday after a deal was struck on Saturday night, before the local press was told announcements would be made at various times on Tuesday, then Wednesday morning.
With the club already under a CVA, and late paying off a £900,000 installment under it's terms, a winding up order would be the last straw. The CVA payment was due five months ago, with demands for payment delayed as various takeovers were discussed. The club needed a bail-out to pay wages in October, and is believed to not have the money to pay December's money - due next week.
Fitton's group is believed to have all the paperwork in place, including the written statements to announce the takeover, but the deal is being held up by lawyers. The deal is said to be 'conditional', with several parties having to agree to the deal with one of the stumbling blocks believed to be the future status of their County Ground home.
A takeover of the club was announced as completed in August, before the Portugese company behind it disappeared without trace when monies were due. Fitton's deal has failed twice in negotiation before this weekend's agreement.
