David Blunkett has issued a response to the winding-up order issued this morning by HM Revenue and Customs to Sheffield Wednesday FC.
Mr Blunkett's constituency of Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough includes the club.
Mr Blunkett said: "I will be in immediate touch with Sheffield Wednesday Football Club, as I would for any other enterprise in my constituency, to offer every possible assistance — including intervention with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.
"I share the club’s concern about pre-emptive moves — particularly where, with the Co-operative Bank, constructive discussions were in progress. Action of this kind can only cause both deep distress to the fans and the club’s management, and undermine the club’s efforts to obtain substantial funding for future development.
"Quite simply, this move is deeply unhelpful in every respect and I hope that HMRC will move immediately to allay fears and to find a sensible solution. In the meantime, I am making preliminary contact with the HMRC Chief Executive, Lesley Strathie, in order to facilitate the necessary behind the scenes work to get this matter resolved."
Mr Blunkett will also be meeting the chairman of fans' group Wednesdayite at lunchtime on Friday to review the situation.
If I don't bother paying my tax I will soon have the bailiffs round taking my possessions. Why should a football club receive special treatment when everyone else is struggling to pay their debts?
Posted by: Iain Mackenzie | July 23, 2010 at 03:34 PM