TIME is ticking for precarious Salisbury City FC who have less than two weeks to find £14,000 or face closure.

Plagued by financial problems, the Whites were issued a winding up order from HMRC on Monday at the High Court to avoid collapse.

Pressure is mounting for Salisbury as the new board of directors remain in a legal battle to wrestle back ownership from Moroccan businessman Otail Touzar.

But the club’s consortium is set to return to court today, with the aim of settling the legal dispute.

Football is still yet to be played in a Salisbury shirt after their appeal to join the Wessex League was rejected for “not having a structure in place.”

League officials dismissed owner Mr Touzar’s application to join the ninth tier of English football - four divisions lower where they played last season - at Wednesday’s emergency general meeting at Totton & Eling Sports Club.

A statement read: “The Sydenhams Football League (Wessex) was approached by Salisbury City FC, with the agreement of the Football Association, with regard to the club joining the league, despite the season having commenced, to assist the club in playing competitive football.

“The league has met with the club but cannot see that the club has a structure in place, on or off the pitch, to compete in the league, while the on-going court cases place a question mark over any long term involvement with the league.

“The league has therefore rejected the club's application.”

MP set to debate Whites

Salisbury MP John Glen is preparing to discuss Salisbury City at a debate on football governance and the future of non-league football in parliament today.

Mr Glen, right, is keen to discuss the process in which a fit and proper test is relied upon and should be in place for when people try to buy a football club.

This comes after Mr Touzar, who took on 98 per cent of the shares in May, is yet to plough any cash into the club.

Mr Glen will also look at the nature of the FA and how it contributes to non-league clubs.

He said: “It’s not inevitable I’ll get called to talk but I’m frustrated with the inadequacy of the FA’s advice.

“People in the league need to take responsibility and have a vigorous process in place to check owners.

“It’s important the ownership is resolved and the new owners can get the club going again.”

“Time is ticking and the season is already three weeks old.”