THE board bidding to wrestle back control of Salisbury City have entered the club into administration in a final attempt to remove Otail Touzar, who they claim never invested a penny.

Jeremy Harewood, a consortium board member, lodged the petition through his company LED Synergy in The High Court last week.

Mr Touzar, the Moroccan businessman who bought the club in May, tried to appeal the decision in court on Tuesday but it was rejected.

He was also ordered to pay £1,700 in costs in 14 days or face bankruptcy.

Now, the club is in the hands of the administrator, Portland Business Support and Advice, who are now in charge of running the club.

Whites’ consortium head figure Paul Smith said entering the club into administration was the only method of removing Mr Touzar.

In an exclusive interview with the Journal, Mr Smith said: “We needed to somehow wrestle back control of the club and going into administration was the right thing to do.

“We try to do things in an orderly fashion and it wasn’t our desire to enter administration but we were left with little alternative.

“The administrators (Portland Business Support and Advice) are in control of the club now and will remain so until someone is in a viable position to take it out.

“We’re still resolute and determined to take the club on and there is still hope for Salisbury.”

“There is a huge amount of relief across the city now Mr Touzar has gone. That’s the end of him now.”

Salisbury are due to return to court at the end of October but hope to bring this appearance forward.

Mr Smith added: “We wish the administrators our full support whilst they run the club and attempt to undo some of the actions that Touzar has caused. We look forward to football again being played at the Ray Mac, under leadership that cares about this club.”