Accrington Stanley Football Club (ASFC) has been given eight weeks to pay back £300,000 in unpaid taxes after failing to secure a further adjournment of a winding up order brought by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

In June, the Coca-Cola League Two club had been granted a 12-month reprieve after HMRC accepted proposals to repay the arrears by significantly reducing costs and reducing revenue streams. However, HMRC has since sought a reduced payment schedule. In a statement, ASFC chief executive Robert Heys, said: "With our original twelve month plan we had sought to repay the money owed from the club's annual turnover, by significantly reducing costs in some areas and increasing revenue streams in others.

"Now with our much shorter deadline the club is appealing for help from all interested parties who share our desire to keep the club moving forward. Over the next few days and weeks we will be announcing a number of initiatives to bring in funds to be specifically used to clear this debt." ASFC has attributed its increased debt to the collapse of the club's main sponsor - Fraser Eagle - and unavoidable expenditure on ground improvements to satisfy Football League regulations during the 2008-09 season.