Lewes have been given another stay of execution.

The Rooks were given more time to repay a tax debt at a winding-up petition in the High Court this morning.

The case, which was originally heard in August, has been adjourned for a second time and will now return to court on January 13.

Since the first hearing Lewes have repaid £60,000 of a total tax debt in £107,000 in the space of three months.

HM Revenue and Customs were demanding a further lump sum of £20,000 or the full remaining balance of £47,000 ahead of the court case.

However, a judge has agreed to the proposal of Lewes managing director Martin Elliott to continue paying off debt in monthly instalments of £10,000 while keeping the winding-up order in place.

HMRC had said they would lift the order once Lewes got the balance down to £27,000 but Elliott says volunteering to keep it in place will keep the pressure on themselves to settle the matter once and for all, which the club have said all along the want to do.

Following this morning’s hearing, Elliott said: “We keep battling on. We are getting there in lots of ways.

“We are delighted the adjournment gives us more time to pay back HMRC and other debts as well.

“We now have to sit down and decide what we do before January 13 in terms of how much of it we pay back. One thing is for sure, if we don’t make any payment we will be toast.”

The news means tonight's FA Trophy replay with Eastleigh at the Dripping Pan can go ahead. A prize fund of £4,000 is up for grabs for the winners.

Despite the weather over the last couple of days Lewes have confirmed the game is on.