IS THIS THE END FOR LLANELLI

A PETITION to wind-up Llanelli has been presented in the High Court by the Commissioners for HM Revenue & Customs.

The petition is due to be heard at the Royal Courts of Justice in London September 3.

Last season, Llanelli's south Wales neighbours Neath faced two winding-up petitions, the second of which proved fatal as the club folded after failing to gain either the Uefa licence of the FAW domestic licence.

Reports have been rife for some time that the Reds have financial difficulties and, earlier this summer, then general manager Nigel Richards warned that the club would fold unless support improved.

scamp wrote:A PETITION to wind-up Llanelli has been presented in the High Court by the Commissioners for HM Revenue & Customs.

The petition is due to be heard at the Royal Courts of Justice in London September 3.

Last season, Llanelli's south Wales neighbours Neath faced two winding-up petitions, the second of which proved fatal as the club folded after failing to gain either the Uefa licence of the FAW domestic licence.

Reports have been rife for some time that the Reds have financial difficulties and, earlier this summer, then general manager Nigel Richards warned that the club would fold unless support improved.

The attendances have been shocking. Watching Llanelli against Tblisi on TV it looked like the game was being played behind closed doors!

LLANELLI'S future remains mired in doubt as the club remains silent in the face of legal action over unpaid taxes, according to the Llanelli Star.

HM Revenue and Customs has served Llanelli AFC with a winding-up petition as a result of unpaid taxes and, while it has not been revealed how much the club owes, one fan estimated the figure to be around £70,000.

A meeting of Llanelli Town Council heard that £5,717.25 plus VAT of rent was currently outstanding on the club's lease at Stebonheath.

Former star striker Rhys Griffiths — now with League Two side Plymouth Argyle — also revealed last week that he was owed £5,000 in wages by the Reds and said he felt "left out in the cold" by the management.

But the Star says that, despite repeated efforts to speak to officials and mounting worries among supporters, nobody has been available to comment on the situation, or how it might affect the future of the club.

Last week, David Jones - in charge of the club's accounts and administration - said chairman Nitin Parekh was "dealing with" the issue.

Saying no official statement would be issued by the club, Jones said: "He (the chairman) is dealing with the tax people. He isn't issuing a statement because it is something that will go away."

Supporters have taken to Twitter to express their hopes that the club would get through its financial difficulties.

Llanelli mayor Winston Lemon said it would be a total disaster if the club was forced to wind up.

"They are a premier division club bringing European football to the town," he said.

"I hope it doesn't happen and they can sort their financial situation out.

"They definitely need more support — it's financially difficult to run a football team of any kind, and people need to rally behind them."

A hearing of the petition against the Reds will take place at the Royal Courts of Justice on Monday

LLANELLI have less than three weeks to address ongoing financial concerns or they could face being kicked out of the Welsh Premier League, according to the South Wales Evening Post.

Chairman Nitin Parekh last month settled an outstanding tax bill after HM Revenue & Customs issued a winding-up petition against the club in London's High Court.

But the Post says it understands other creditors are still owed money, while players are chasing sums in unpaid wages.

Parekh has promised to resolve these issues before Newtown visit Stebonheath Park on Saturday.

If Llanelli do not sort out their difficulties by the end of September, the Reds will fail the Uefa Financial Fair Play test for that quarter of the year. Having also failed in the first quarter, Llanelli would then be looking at suspension from European competition.

That would affect their application for the FAW domestic licence to play in next year's Welsh top flight and the club would face the prospect of being relegated to the MacWhirter Welsh League division one.

Llanelli are owed money by Uefa after qualifying for the Europa League this season, but that cash is not payable until November.

"We're still got some issues to deal with," said Llanelli manager Andy Legg. "We don't have anywhere to train and there are other off-field matters as well.

"The chairman says they'll be dealt with this week and hopefully they will be. We'll wait and see.

"This is something I shouldn't be dealing with, I'm a football manager."

Llanelli's problems comes just months after the demise of Neath who folded after failing to gain the licence.

"Rumours are rife and you're never going to stop rumours," added Legg. "But it would be a real shame to see us go.

"I know Llanelli has the Scarlets, but I think the town needs a football team as well."