Sol backing winding up order
BUSINESSMAN Joe Sealey hopes he is on the verge of buying Macclesfield Town after he struck a deal in principle for the club.
As we went to press on Tuesday afternoon his
FORMER Macclesfield Town manager Sol Campbell wants the club to be wound up because debts have not been paid, a judge has heard.
Judge Catherine Addy was told on Wednesday that Macclesfield bosses owed a ‘very large’ amount of tax and owed Campbell more than £180,000.
Tax officials have asked for the club to be wound up and Campbell supported that application, lawyers told Judge Addy.
The judge was given updates on the League Two club’s debt problems at a hearing in the specialist Insolvency and Companies Court in London.
She said Macclesfield bosses should get time to clear the debts and said the case would be reconsidered side of the deal’s finances had been sent to current owner Amar AlKadhi.
And Mr Sealey, son of former Manchester United goalkeeper Les, said he was awaiting to see what figures came on December 18.
Barrister Raj Arumugam, who represented Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, asked the judge to make a winding-up order.
He did not say how much tax Macclesfield owed but the judge said the sum was ‘very large’. back from Mr AlKadhi.
But he told the Macclesfield Express that if these are as discussed during negotiations then the deal is on. Mr Sealey said: “If it stacks up to what I believe it is then we have a deal.
Barrister Philip Currie, who represented Campbell, said Macclesfield owed his client about £182,000.
He said Campbell also wanted the club to be wound up.
Barrister Sam Hodge, who represented Macclesfield, told of money transaction difficulties. He said there had been issues moving ‘large sums’ from a director’s account in Spain.
Mr Hodge said a payment made to HMRC had ‘bounced back’.
The judge adjourned the hearing for two weeks.
She said if ‘banking transaction problems’ continued she wanted them to be explained in detail in writing.
Former central defender Campbell, 45, managed Macclesfield for a successful stint between
“It’s a lot further on than it was, let’s say 60 per cent (of the way there).
“I am excited, I have been trying to do this for six weeks. The important thing is if not me then someone buys the club,
November 2018 and August 2019, where he kept the club in League Two.
He ended his time at the club by ‘mutual agreement’ just two games into this season and was subsequently replaced by former Ebbsfleet boss Daryl McMahon.
Campbell is now managing another club with money troubles, League One Southend United.
Southend also have tax debts and HMRC officials also asked for Southend to be wound up at Wednesday’s hearing.
McMahon, 35, who is the Silkmen’s fourth manager in a little over 12 months, has guided the club to 14th place in the league but they have failed to win any of their last five games. because the players and staff need it.
“We believe we are the best (option). I am waiting to see his numbers and will need to look at them really well, I can’t just jump in blind.”
The news is a welcome boost for many fans, with around 1,500 signing a petition calling on Mr AlKadhi to leave the club.
Yet another turbulent week at the Moss Rose saw players strike over unpaid wages and Saturday’s game against Crewe Alexandra postponed as a result.
It has also emerged that former manager Sol Campbell wants the club wound up over £180,000 he is owed.
He is supporting a winding-up petition by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
The club issued a statement over the weekend.
It said: “Majority shareholder Amar AlKadhi would like to advise that he is currently in advanced negotiations with various third parties, with a view to selling his stake in Macclesfield Town.
“Although we are bound by obvious legal restrictions at this present time, a further update will be made as soon as we possibly can.” The news was greeted with cautious delight by fans, tempered by the knowledge there is still English Football League (EFL) misconduct matters ongoing.
This could include a points deduction or even suspension from the league and, although there are less severe penalties, Saturday’s postponement against Crewe will not have helped.
Fan Pete Lloyd said: “If this really does happen, we owe a real debt of gratitude to our fantastic team for taking a very difficult, but principled decision to take strike action.”
Supporter Stephen Sleath said: “Could be the best Christmas present ever for players, staff and supporters. Just pray that the EFL see common sense and do not impose a severe penalty.”
The club has declined to comment further beyond what was said in the statement released on Saturday.
But it appears this Saturday’s game at Walsall in on after the Silkmen’s opponents confirmed, ‘we have spoken with the EFL and the message is that the game is going ahead’.