Irish League club Crusaders confirm outstanding rates bill has been ‘discharged in full’
Irish League club Crusaders have confirmed that an outstanding rates bill has been paid.
The Belfast Telegraph reported yesterday that the club was due to appear in court on September 24 this year over the unpaid rates bill.
The winding-up petition was listed before the Bankruptcy Master at the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast and was brought forward by Land and Property Services, which is part of the Department of Finance.
However, in a statement released on the Crusaders’ Facebook page this morning, a spokesperson said: “Further to an article in yesterday's Belfast Telegraph (11/9/26) Crusaders FC confirm that the clubs outstanding balance in respect of LPS has already been discharged in full.”
Before a ball was kicked this season, the Hatchetmen were placed under a transfer embargo due to falling foul of the Northern Ireland Football League’s (NIFL) rules and regulations.
A search of NIFL’s Premiership Rules & Regulations document includes only one reference to ‘embargo’, sitting within the ‘HMRC Reporting’ section.
It meant they faced an anxious wait before they could register their new signings Graham Kelly, Aaron Reid, Thomas Maguire and Owen Wardell.
However, the matter was dealt with on the week of the new season, which got under way last month.
Crusaders have started their BOYLE Sports Premiership campaign with three wins and two losses ahead of today’s encounter at home to Limavady United.