Ashford United say the winding up order hanging over the Southern Counties East League club at the High Court later this month will be a formality.

The case, due to be heard on Monday February 29, had been brought by Kent Attractions, involving a figure of £110,000, but United's Chief Executive Denise Peach confirmed on Thursday that the debt had been settled.

She said: "The hearing will be a formality after we have handed over the paperwork involved."

Mrs Peach refused to comment on the matter of another outstanding debt of £106,000 owed to solicitors Mills & Reeve.

Both sums relate to when Don Crosbie regained ownership of the club from his former business partner Tony Betteridge in a long-running court case.

Meanwhile Mrs Peach also says the club will be taking up the buy-back option on Homelands "as soon as we are in a position to do so".

The ground was transferred to V Bar Limited last November when managing director Glyn Jones took possession of the ground, claiming they were owed £260,000, money loaned to United to help them obtain their 3G pitch.

The buy-back option was given to United to re-purchase the property within nine months for £250,000, plus pro-rata holding costs capped at £36,000 per annum.

The news of the winding-up order comes in the week United reached the quarter-finals of the FA Vase - two rounds from the Wembley final in May.