A FOOTBALL club which it is feared could go out of business has had an outstanding tax bill paid by a fan.

Rachel Cartwright set up a Just Giving page online after HMRC demanded £48,000 from struggling Hartlepool FC.

Donations quickly shot past the amount required and on Thursday night more than £84,000 had been raised by Pools fans and supporters from other clubs sympathetic with their financial plight.

Ms Cartwright, a delivery worker in the town with supermarket chain Morrison’s, confirmed on Facebook she had the details to make the tax bill payment and had transferred the money over.

The winding up order issued by HMRC is now in the process of being withdrawn ahead of what would have been Pools’ prospective day in court.

Pools fan John Clark, who lives in Adelaide, Australia, posted: “Absolutely fantastic effort Rachel and a big thank you to everybody who donated.”

Alan Adair said: “Cap doffed to you. If every club had fans in charge like you no club would ever be mismanaged.”

Among those who contributed were former Middlesbrough and Sunderland striker Danny Graham who now turns out for Blackburn Rovers.

Mr Graham said: “I’m from Gateshead so I know what North-East football means to everyone in the region. I thought it would be a nice gesture to try and help out.

“They’re a well-supported team and it would be a shame for any fans to lose their club.”

The club, which was relegated from the Football League earlier this year, is currently up for sale in order that new owners can be found.

A statement issued via the club’s official website, said: “Rachel Cartwright, who set up the Just Giving fundraising page for the club, has now paid the outstanding HMRC debt.

“HMRC have confirmed they will cancel the serving of the winding-up petition and the process to withdraw the winding-up order is under way.

“We would like to thank Rachel and all of the fans and community for their generosity of spirit, time and money.”

Pools drew a bumper crowd of more than 7,000 people following an appeal for people to attend the club’s last home game with ticket receipts helping to pay staff and players.

But with wages due in a fortnight the 110-year-old club is far from out of the woods and even more cash will have to be forthcoming to keep it running.

Hartlepool president Jeff Stelling, a Sky Sports presenter, has said that without an investor coming forward he doubts the club will make it through until the end of the season.

Teesside based property developer Chris Musgrave expressed an interest in buying Pools, but withdrew after stating he had not been able to identify the exact amount of cash that would be required to keep the club afloat.