ALBION'S promotion hopes could be damaged by Aston Villa's refusal to cough up cash they owe for Gareth Barry.

The Seagulls have still not received the first £200,000 installment from Villa for Barry, due six weeks ago.

It means boss Brian Horton may not be able to splash out on new players as Albion face up to the long-term injury absence of Rod Thomas.

Finance director Bob Pinnock warned: "This is a very important sum of money to us at a time when we need all the money we can to keep the impetus of the club going.

"It affects the general running of the club and as far as taking on additional players is concerned that's part of the general running of the club."

An independent tribunal, chaired by Professor Sir John Wood, ruled in October that Albion should receive a staged package of payments, worth potentially over £1m from Villa for teenage star Barry, who spent five years with the Seagulls.

Villa honoured the £150,000 downpayment and Albion invoiced them on December 7 for the £200,000 due when Barry made his 20th first team appearance.

But Villa are refusing to pay up until Wood replies to a letter demanding an explanation of how the tribunal arrived at its decision.

Said Pinnock: "That doesn't help us in the meantime. The day to day running of a small club like ours depends on a strong flow of cash."

Villa have no right of appeal and their challenge is the first in the 20 years that the independent tribunal system has been in operation.

Their actions have infuriated Albion chairman Dick Knight. His co-director Martin Perry said: "Their behaviour is totally outrageous. If Premier League clubs start saying they are not going to abide by the tribunal system then we have got anarchy in the football world and little clubs are going to suffer.

"How can Villa on the one hand be negotiating a £12 million transfer deal for Juninho and refuse in the same breath to pay £200,000 to us?"

Albion are being backed by the Football League, the FA and the PFA. League chief executive Richard Scudamore had talks with Knight after the Seagulls' home game against Carlisle nine days ago and again at Chester on Friday night.

League spokesman Chris Hull said: "All the bodies in football support the tribunal ruling and we are confident the matter will be resolved."

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