CRUEL TAUNT
English club facing extinction just six days after losing half a dozen first-team players in a WEEK
Lack of sponsorship money and huge expenditure has left one club staring into the abyss
A NON-LEAGUE club faces a bleak future after losing six players in just ONE week.
That's after being issued with a winding-up petition by HMRC.
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Taunton Town ply their trade in the National League South, having achieved promotion to England’s sixth tier in 2022.
But the club has been blighted by financial issues this season, with chairman Kevin Sturmey claiming they have been dealing with “ten per cent income and 100 per cent expenditure” over the past three months.
He added: “Not receiving a significant amount of sponsorship money which we had built into our cashflow has also not helped.”
Their problems extend to the football pitch too, with Taunton stuck in 19th spot after only one win in their last 12 matches.
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And earlier this month they saw six first-team stars depart in just seven days, leaving the squad short on numbers.
But they now face possible extinction after being issued with a winding-up order by HMRC.
A statement from Taunton Town read: "We can confirm we owe no VAT as this was totally paid last week but we do have some PAYE outstanding with HMRC.
"We've been talking with HMRC but have received no guidance or help from them."
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The club added: "As a result, we are in communication with the National League to help us find a solution to this short-term issue."
Despite attempting to balance the books, Taunton were forced to bring in several players on loan.
And captain Nick Grimes admitted the club is going through a “tough situation”.
He told : “I’m not going to sugarcoat it or say that everyone’s happy and cheerful.
"I don't begrudge the ones for going, a lot of them have gone on to full-time contracts, and clubs and deals that they're going to progress and go higher up the football pyramid.
"Now, more than ever, we've got to stick together, ride it out is all we can do, hoping there's a light at the end of the tunnel really.
"We've had one of the tightest-knit groups I've ever been part of and we've lost half of that in the last week so it's tough, we've got a lot of new faces in the changing room."
Taunton’s players, via goalie Lloyd Irish, released a statement two weeks ago slamming those in charge of the club.
It read: “Fundamental failures at the very top of the club [are] leading to a situation where the club is unsustainable and the group of players has had to be broken apart.”
However, things could be about to look up for fans and players.
Taunton’s board secured a new sponsorship deal last week.
And former player Paul West has been appointed as a football advisor.
As for results, head of football Rob Dray reckons things can turn around if the players stick together.
He said: “We’re firefighting at the moment day by day. We’re getting a competitive side out.
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“[The last match] showed we’re competitive after losing so many and having so many issues.
“Now we need to build a player or two and find some quality from somewhere on a very restricted budget.”
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