Report: Notts County slapped with transfer embargo

Notts County have been hit with a transfer embargo following their failure to pay for £20,000 worth of match tickets they sold for the recent local derby against Mansfield Town at the One Call Stadium, according to Stags chairman John Radford.

The Mansfield Chad has reporter that the Stags have asked the Football League to step in and ensure the money is paid, and have subsequently had the embargo placed on the Magpies until the matter is sorted, meaning they will not be able to sign players.

Mansfield, who won the game 5-0, were already reeling from a number of matchday incidents, including damage to toilets in the Nort Stand, but Radford said the failure to pay for the advance tickets was the last straw.

“They are not paying for anything at the moment,” he told supporters at the club’s weekly ‘An Evening With’.

“They sold their tickets for the game here, over £20,000 worth, and they’ve not paid us for that – or for the damage caused.

“We’ve got an embargo on them. I think they have about 12 days left to pay us and we’ll have to see what we act on next. But at the moment Notts County are not paying anything.

“They are in a bit of a state to be honest with you since Ray Trew’s left them. He doesn’t want to put his hand in his pocket any more. So we’ll see what happens.

“But I am assured we should be able to get our money back from them.

“They can’t sign any players or anything like that. The thing about the embargo we’ve put on them is that, I believe, when they get the money paid from the League next month, we’ll have first shout on that money before it gets paid into Notts County’s bank account.

“So we should get our money back before the League pays them any money for next season.

“It annoys me because their directors came and had drinks in our board room and smiled. And we always give a free bar to away directors when they come and see us.

“It was nice that we thrashed them, but they’ve not paid us their bills.”

A Notts County spokesman said: “As with any other business in the course of a potential sale, it is not unusual for creditor payments to be extended whilst discussions are ongoing with potential investors.

“Football League rules state that clubs failing to meet football creditor debts on time are automatically temporarily embargoed until such time as these payments are settled.

“We are currently in the process of scheduling due payments, including the monies owed to Mansfield Town relating to ticket sales, to ensure that the club can re-engage with out of contract players and enhance the squad when the new manager is appointed.”

A Football League spokesman said they do not disclose information about embargoes or private matters between clubs.

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