A cash-strapped football club has narrowly avoided closure over thousands of pounds in unpaid tax.

Burgess Hill Town owes about £10,000 to the Inland Revenue after it filed a petition to wind up the club to ensure the money was paid.

Club director Gary Croydon told the judge at a brief hearing at the High Court in London yesterday the money was now available.

He said: "The company has the ability now to make this payment."

Chief Registrar Baister granted him a 56-day adjournment to resolve any discrepancies over the payment with the Inland Revenue and halt the closure.

Speaking after the hearing, Mr Croydon said private investment in the club would enable it to clear the debt in that time.

He said that although the Revenue had estimated the debt at £10,000, it could be as low as £8,000. In either case, it would be paid.

He said: "We have had two years of financial difficulties, which we feel now are behind us. There have been three winding-up petitions but the matter will now be settled.

That part of the club's history is behind us."

Mr Croydon revealed the funding had come from three or four individuals, who would become directors, with promises of further investment if the club stays in the Isthmain League.

He said: "It's safe to say the future looks bright for us. The investors have put support into the club because they believe it has a future. I hope we win enough points to stay up but you can't take anything for granted."

Had the company been made the subject of a winding-up order, its affairs would have been handed over to an Official Receiver.

He would have ensured debts were paid off by selling any assets and then brought business to a close.

The club was in a similar situation in July when it owed more than £20,000 in unpaid tax to the Inland Revenue. In that case the club paid the sum before the hearing.

Mr Croydon blamed part of the club's financial woes on prosecutions brought by Mid Sussex District Council for breaching rules banning floodlights at its Leyland Park ground after hours. The club has had to pay more than £10,000 in penalties and costs.

The Leylands ground has been earmarked for new housing but a new ground has yet to be found.

The club has resigned itself to a change of ground to escape complaints about the floodlights.