Bosses at a crisis-hit college have failed to file their annual accounts more than seven weeks after the government deadline.

The revelation is the latest in a string of stories relating to the finances of City College Brighton and Hove.

A college spokesman said the reasons for the delays were “technical in nature”, adding that they hoped to file the accounts in March.

Alex Knutsen, of Unison, described the news as “potentially very serious” and said he would quiz the new principal.

It comes after The Argus exclusively revealed earlier this month that the college owed city businesses money for unpaid bills.

Documents seen by this paper suggested the total amount ran into the tens of thousands of pounds.

On the day of the story, the college principal Lynn Thackway stepped down from her post citing a family illness.

The Argus also revealed that the college failed to pay for students’ exams due to cash flow problems and that a government inspector had been sent in to monitor the finances.

On Thursday it was announced that leadership company owner Monica Box had been put in temporary charge. She was recruited from Barnfield Federation in Luton, where former City College head Lynn Thackway was before her move to Brighton.

There have been whispers about the college’s failure to file accounts for several weeks and The Argus questioned the college on February 5. It refused to answer and it was only on Thursday that it came clean.

A spokesman said: “City College has not yet filed its financial statements for 2013/14.

“The Skills Funding Agency [SFA] were made aware of the delay in early December.

“The reasons for the delay are technical in nature. The college has been working closely with its auditors, Baker Tilly, on these issues and consequently will be in a position to file its accounts in March.”

All colleges are required by the SFA, an agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, to submit accounts by December 31.

Mr Knutsen said he had never heard of a college failing to file accounts on time before.

He added: “This is a potentially serious development and I will seek to speak with governors and the new principal.”

A spokesman for the University and College Union hoped open dialogue with the college would ensure the best outcome for everyone.