Hardy moves to quell fears over Magpies and golf club

Notts County and Nottinghamshire Golf Club owner Alan Hardy has hit back against local press reports late last week which suggested both businesses could be in trouble with HMRC over the late filing of their annual accounts.

Speaking exclusively to TheBusinessDesk.com, Hardy said he wanted to reassure fans and members of the Magpies and the golf club.

The move comes after reports last Friday (31 May) which said that Paragon Leisure, the company Hardy bought Notts County through, could be facing being dissolved after failing to provide accounts for the last two years.

Meanwhile, Notts County were due in the High Court this Wednesday over an unpaid £200,000 tax bill, but Hardy says he has received further assurances that this won’t affect the club or its “imminent” sale.

Hardy told us: “There’s been some media speculation recently which I’m keen to clear up for everyone.

“I’d like to confirm that we are completely aware of our Companies House obligations.

“On the advice of our auditors, and in consideration of the imminent sale of the football club, we exchanged correspondence with Companies House back in early May and to that end I can confirm that we were granted an official extension of time both for Notts County FC and the Nottinghamshire Golf and Country Club.

“I can appreciate that the story has a lot of angles and understand why it has been reported but in the interests of accuracy I wanted to clear this one up to help reassure fans, members and customers that we fully expect to satisfy all requirements in the very near future and, contrary to what was reported late last week, the businesses will continue to be unaffected.”

The sale of Notts County is expected to be completed soon, with a South African consortium thought to be close to closing a deal for the club.