Football club bosses have been given the go-ahead to re-enter the Nationwide Conference next year, despite still owing large amounts to creditors.

Crawley Town Football Club's status in the Nationwide Conference had been in doubt after its owners failed to pay off creditors, including the Inland Revenue and Crawley Borough Council, in time for today's deadline.

However the Nationwide Conference league has ruled that because the club came out of administration last November, the deadline for creditor payment no longer applied.

It leaves the door open for the club to rejoin the league which they managed to avoid relegation from on the last day of this season, with the only obstacle being other clubs in the league who could, but are unlikely to, block their membership.

A statement published by the Nationwide Conference said: "We can confirm that Crawley Town will be allowed to enter the Blue Square Premier for the new season.

"Crawley were facing a deadline to complete payments to creditors under a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) this week but the Football Conference office has confirmed that this is not the case.

"The rule applies to clubs in administration, which as from November 2006, Crawley Town were not."

Owners, the Majeed brothers, insist that imminent payment of the creditors, which includes money owed in rent to Crawley Borough Council and corporation tax to the Inland Revenue, is still on the cards.

They have already settled a number of outstanding debts owed to other creditors, including former players and staff.

Co-owner Chas Majeed told The Argus it would not be necessary to sell a flat in Brighton owned by his brother, Azwar Majeed, and valued at more than £1million, to settle the further outstanding amounts.

A club statement said: "The club and administrators continue to work hard to ensure completion of the CVA."

Chas added: "It's not a problem. It's going to happen."

It comes at the end of a traumatic season for the club, which avoided relegation despite a ten-point penalty for going into administration last year.

Some sections of fans remain uneasy about the prospect of Majeed ownership for another season and have continued to talk up the chances of a takeover bid materialising this summer.

However Crawley Town FC has continued to deny rumours of an imminent deal and has this week been working to secure the futures of a number of players.

The Majeed brothers sacked manager John Yems last week but have already guaranteed the futures of at least two players. Other contracts are yet to be finalised.