Kingstone Press Championship club Swinton Lions have announced that their short-term future is safe after settling the HMRC winding up petition.
In a statement, the Lions confirmed the club’s footing as things stand but also insisted that the battle is far from over in the long run.
However, the first obstacle has been passed and things certainly look more bright from a Lions perspective.
Part of the statement, released on the Lions website, can be read below..
“Swinton Lions RLFC is pleased to announce that the immediate threat posed by the HMRC winding up petition has been settled, and the club’s short-term future is therefore safe,”
“However, we still have some way to go before the club is fully back on an even keel, both in terms of its finances and its structure, and we will continue to work very hard towards achieving those goals.
“During July, we urgently set out to bring up to date all outstanding player salaries and bonuses, and this was achieved thanks to (1) the sale of Chris Atkin to Hull KR, (2) budget improvements through natural wastage, (3) third-party input, and (4) some fantastic fund-raising by the Swinton supporters (who have so far raised an amazing £30,000). Had we not taken this action, our players would have been able to join rival clubs as free agents, and the club might have collapsed through being unable to fulfil its fixtures. No one could have blamed the players had this happened, because everyone is fully entitled to expect to receive their contracted wages on time, no matter what their job is.”