by Alex Hoad

The troubled future of Ashford Town could take a step closer to being resolved today when the petition for a winding-up order against the club is heard in the High Court.

Representatives of feuding directors Tony Betteridge and Don Crosbie (pictured during happier times) are set to meet in Court 53 of London's High Court some time after 11.30am, although neither of the pair are expected to attend.

Mr Registrar Simmonds has the option to put the club into liquidation but Mr Betteridge - the man who says he launched the petition to stop the club from piling more debt on top of the estimated £1m it already owes - says he does not expect a speedy resolution.

He said: "I don’t anticipate a conclusion immediately. My impression is that the other side will contest the order.

"The process would then give the other side between 14 and 28 days to register the reasons they are contesting in writing with the court. My side will then get equal time to put our reasoning across."

He warned: "This could drag on - I understand the High Court also takes a summer break so we could be looking at it dragging on into the season."

Despite liquidation meaning the end for the club , in its current form, Mr Betteridge - who owns the freehold to Homelands - insisted Town fans will soon have another team to follow.

He said: "Whatever happens, there will be an Ashford Town Football Club. If I can, I will form another Ashford Town and I would be looking to all those people who are committed to the well-being of the club to help me make it work.

"I can even see a situation where I won’t even be a director of that club, a situation where I entrust it to the hands of other people, so long as they have the best interests of the club at heart."