Coleraine gets reprieve from courts

The club appeared to clear a major hurdle in its attempt to avoid dissolution after the Commissioners of Revenue and Customs abandoned an appeal to overturn High Court’s decision to dismiss winding-up petition.

Barrister Keith Gibson told the Court of Appeal in Belfast that the appeal was being withdrawn without giving a reason for the withdrawal. The Lord Chief Justice, Sir Brian Kerr, sitting with Lord Justice Campbell, said: “We will dismiss the appeal and make no order as to costs.”

Last September, Jutice Weir dismissed a winding-up petition agains the club and instead placed it under administration. The court-appointed administrators were then given six months to improve the club’s finances. The Revenue’s move came after the club disclosed that it owed more than GBP 400,000, while other creditors claimed the figure was closer to GBP 1 million.