SUPPORTERS of troubled Hucknall Town FC have raised more than £7,500 to help save the club.
Hucknall Town FC announced earlier this month that it estimated its debt to be more than £20,000.
However, former chief executive Liz Morley – a self-employed business consultant, who was asked to help the club out of its financial troubles – reckons the figure is actually £98,750.
To help raise the cash, Miss Morley came up with the idea of selling "virtual tickets" on the club's website for today's home game against Lincoln United, so people could show their support even if they could not make it to the match.
Miss Morley said that since the virtual ticket sales were launched about two weeks ago, the site had had more than 15,000 visits.
"The community has raised £5,000 and we raised another £2,500 through the virtual tickets," she said.
Miss Morley said that as well as unpaid tax, the club owed money in unpaid electricity bills and supplies from a brewery.
She added: "It is a shame but I don't know if we can save the club. I am in discussion with all stakeholders and will speak to the taxman on Monday.
"I will try to negotiate a deal with HMRC to give us more time to pay back the debt.
"We'd need about two years to pay back the tax money."
A fan of the club for ten years, Mark Hutson, of Newstead Terrace, Hucknall, bought two tickets at £5 each.
He said: "I think everybody should have a local team to support. It is good for the community.
"I'm confident we can save the club."
Mr Hutson and Pete Lee, 31, of Hucknall, who volunteers at the club, launched a Twitter campaign (#savehtfc) two weeks ago.
"The aim was to get people to look at www.hucknalltownfc.com and donate money, but we also had a little Derby v Forest competition to see who got the most re-tweets.
"I managed to get re-tweets from Derby players John Brayford, Shaun Barker and Ben Davies and Mark Hutson got one from Nottingham Forest."
Mr Lee, who bought a virtual family ticket for £10, said: "I think the club will be saved – there seems to be a lot of support from non-league fans and clubs who remember fantastic away days they had at Watnall Road."
Every ticket sold includes a free round of golf at Leen Valley Golf Club, in Wigwam Lane, Hucknall, worth up to £16.
General manager at the club Robert Kerr said: "We decided to help because it would be a massive shame to see the club go."
Anyone who buys a virtual corporate ticket at £500 is in with a chance of a year's free membership at the club, worth up to £460.
To buy a virtual ticket, visit www.hucknalltownfc.com.
