NORTHWICH Victoria could go out of business over an unpaid tax bill.

HM Revenue and Customs have set an October 17 deadline for the struggling Blue Square Premier club to come up with the money, believed to total hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Chairman Mike Connett is due at London's High Court of Justice that day.

The UK's tax department petitioned to wind up Northwich Victoria Football Club (2004) Limited in July, but the order was only made public in the London Gazette yesterday, Thursday.

That company was formed when the old one - Northwich Victoria Football Club Company Limited - went out of business in 2005.

"The club need to find hundreds of thousands of pounds in 12 days," said Peter Grimes, chairman of the fan group Northwich Victoria Supporter Trust.

"HM Revenue and Customs cannot discuss any individual or business accounts for confidentiality reasons," a spokesman told the Guardian.

Connett this week refused to talk to the Guardian about his future plans for the club, although he did admit he was open to offers to sell.

"It's my business, why should I say anything?" he said.

The Guardian also learned that Manchester corporate rescue specialists Begbies Traynor had given advice to the Vics chairman, although the club has not entered administration as fans fear.

The same company looked after Vics when they went into administration three years ago, eventually thrashing out the deal that allowed Connett to take over.

Vics are the second Blue Square Premier club to face extinction since the summer.

Yorkshire rivals Halifax Town were given a reprieve at the beginning of September.

That day HM Revenue and Customs asked for an adjournment for the club to pay its debts and complete a planned takeover.

That has still not gone through, but the Shaymen were given a second 28-day adjournment this week.

More details to follow.