United say court hearing a formality

Ashford United say the winding up order hanging over the Southern Counties East League club at the High Court later this month will be a formality.

The case, due to be heard on Monday, February 29, had been brought by Kent Attractions, involving a figure of £110,000 but United’s chief executive Denise Peach confirmed last Thursday that the debt had been settled.

She said: “The hearing will be a formality after we have handed over the paperwork involved.”

Mrs Peach refused to comment on the matter of another outstanding debt of £106,000 owed to solicitors Mills & Reeve.

Both sums relate to when Don Crosbie regained ownership of the club from his former business partner Tony Betteridge in a longrunning court case.

Meanwhile, Mrs Peach also said the club would be taking up the buyback option on Homelands as soon as they were in a position to do so.

The ground was transferred to V Bar Limited last November when managing director Glyn Jones took possession of the ground, claiming they were owed £260,000, money loaned to United to help them obtain their 3G pitch.

The buy-back option was given to United to re-purchase the property within nine months for £250,000, plus pro-rata holding costs capped at £36,000 per annum.