Accrington Stanley's battle to stay alive has just seven days to be realised.
As previously reported the club who lie 14th in League Two owe HM Revenue and Customs £308,000 and were given a winding up order by the High Court in June.
A timescale by which they should pay the debt was established.
The club had hoped to meet their obligation by today - 28 October 2009 - but as of 48 hours ago the Save our Stanley (SoS) campaign had raised just under £117,000. Less than £100,000 is thought to have been handed to HMRC.
At a hearing of the companies court a stay has been granted of seven days after assurances that all unpaid taxes would be honoured within that time.
Delays in sources of funding were cited as the reason and registrar Mr Simmons felt able to adjourn the proceedings on that basis. But this is something akin to chasing a game you are well adrift in during injury-time.
The massive fund raising effort assisted by Premiership clubs such as Burnley, Blackburn Rovers and Liverpool has been a success but time is ticking. Though the club remains confident of meeting their new deadline nothing can be taken for granted.
In fact there remains doubt that the week given will be sufficient. Nobody connected with the game should wish to see Accrington Stanley's history repeat itself.
It is a bleak week for the game. Southend United of League One have also been given a week to settle a £690,000 bill owing to HMRC or face a winding-up order.
For more information on the club and their unique history see: http://aredcorner.blogspot.com/2009/09/accrington-stanley-who-are-they.html
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