Kettering Town face Rushden & Diamonds Ltd winding-up petition

Kettering Town have settled a winding-up order brought by HM Revenue & Customs - but the petition has been continued by Rushden & Diamonds Ltd.

The Poppies' case with HMRC over unpaid tax was set to be dismissed in court on Monday.

But Rushden & Diamonds, the company left over when the club of the same name was wound up two years ago, says it is also owed money.

It is understood the debt relates to rent at the Nene Park stadium.

The ground used to be the home of Rushden but, after their demise, was used by Kettering until they left in the autumn of last year when they could not afford to pay the electricity bill.

Rushden & Diamonds Ltd is the company of former Rushden chairman Keith Cousins, the landlord of Nene Park.

Kettering have been granted a 28-day period to negotiate a settlement with the company.

The Poppies almost went out of business in June last year, but have been paying a portion of their debts in the form of a Company Voluntary Arrangement.

The 141-year-old club is due to play in the eighth tier of English football next season after finishing bottom of the Southern Premier League.

Kettering started the 2011-12 campaign in the Blue Square Bet Premier, but were relegated two levels and deducted 10 points as a result of going into a CVA.

The company continuing the petition is not linked to the phoenix club AFC Rushden and Diamonds, which formed in 2011 as a youth side, won promotion as a senior team last season and will play in the United Counties League Premier Division next season.