Message of support for Linnets

Conference North survivors Hyde have backed King's Lynn to stave off their own High Court winding up order.Hyde chairman Steve Hartley revealed he had contacted both Linnets and Unibond officials in the last few days to help Lynn's bid to clear a �67,000 tax bill.

Conference North survivors Hyde have backed King's Lynn to stave off their own High Court winding up order.

Hyde chairman Steve Hartley revealed he had contacted both Linnets and Unibond officials in the last few days to help Lynn's bid to clear a �67,000 tax bill.

Hyde successfully rescinded a High Court petition back in September to settle a �122,000 bill to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

"Good luck in whatever you decide to do," Hartley said in an open letter on the club's official site. "We owe you for our survival in Conference North, without which we would not have got some of the investment which ultimately saved us from extinction, so it would be unthinkable for you to have the same fate. I contacted the Unibond League chairman to offer help and advice. Time is of the essence. We are still not completely clear of our problems, because we have used every last bit of sponsorship available, and still have five months of the season to fund. We also have further tax arrears arising from the date of the petition debt (November 2008) to part way through the current season, but we paid the last VAT bill on time, and also the last two months PAYE, so the position is not getting worse. Unfortunately some people think that because we escaped winding-up everything is rosy, but we still have a lot of hard work to do, and need to agree a way forward with HMRC."

Hyde raised all the necessary funds within a six-day period.

"The whole process was incredibly stressful," said Hartley. "I was on the telephone for at least 20 hours that week, took three days holiday from work, and got 12 hours sleep between Sunday morning and Wednesday morning. Since then I have had every virus going, but it was worth it to save the club.

"We held a supporters' meeting on the Saturday, and received donations and financial support from fans, including ten year season tickets for �1,000. Somehow we reached our target."