A petition to wind up Leyton Orient Football Club Ltd has today been posted in the official Gazette.
While the details (and in particular the amount) of the debt owed to HM Revenue and Customs is as yet unknown, it is clear that the club is late in paying a tax bill of some nature.
Winding-up orders are not uncommon in football clubs - Hartlepool United were recently served their third such order in 8 months.
However, how the club's owner Francesco Becchetti reacts to this winding-up order will be a clear indicator of his seriousness at selling the club as a going concern. If he settles the bill before the hearing date of 20 March then there remains a chance that the club can be sold to new owners.
If he does not though, then the coming days and weeks may be the most important in Orient's 136-year history.
LOFT is holding a pre-arranged Special General meeting for its members tomorrow (Thursday 2 March), at the Leytonstone & District Ex-Servicemens Club on Harvey Road, Leytonstone, E11 3DB. The meeting will start at 7:45pm with doors opening around 7pm. There are recently-published documents on this site for the meeting and - for those not able to attend - details of how to watch online via our Facebook page.
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