Northamptonshire Council are to go to court to seek the authority to appoint an Administrator for Northampton Town.
With HMRC set to face the club in court on Monday, and no prospect of payment being made beforehand, the Council are to seek the move which will defer the HMRC action to allow further time for negotiations to take place on a potential takeover of the club by former Oxford chairman Kelvin Thomas.
The move will not see the club incur a points deduction unless an Administrator is actually appointed. A Council statement notes: “The council, when it met on the November 2, was urged to take steps to oppose the Petition for Liquidation from HMRC, and it unanimously committed to do all it can to support the Cobblers and their followers.
“This course of action would prevent the club being put into Liquidation on Monday and would give us time to continue working with other interested parties, including the Supporters’ Trust, to put together a rescue plan for the Football Club.”
A Justgiving page to raise £100,000 for the club has, so far, raised £36,000 while Thomas' discussions with the Council over the £10.25million loan are still ongoing.