IT was only a matter of time but Northwich Vics have officially been placed into administration.

Owner Jim Rushe confirmed that the decision was taken last Friday to try to alleviate strangling tax debts of about £400,000, inherited from former chairman Mike Connett.

Threats of winding-up orders, unpaid wages, falling income and spiralling running costs are just some of the reasons why, without a major investor, bringing in administrators is needed to keep Vics afloat.

It is not yet known whether Vics will be consequently punished by the Football Conference but Rushe told the Chronicle that going into administration is to safeguard the future of the football club.

He said: “The reasons are that because of the current financial climate, dropping into a lower division means that the revenue coming in will be less and the club’s commitments before my time meant that I just could not take the club forward in its present form.

“It is to protect the club from any winding up order and protect the long term future of Northwich Victoria.”

Vics’ short-term future has been placed in the hands of administrator Daniel Hennessy, who has expertise is helping firms recover from the threat of financial meltdown and is based at the operations office of Refresh Business Group in Skelmersdale, Lancashire.

He was not available for comment as the Chronicle went to press but last week assured fans that Refresh would make every effort to safeguard the future of the club.

Rushe was also keen to allay any fears supporters may have about the decision to take the club into administration and said he would be operating an open-door policy at the Marston’s Arena.

He said: “I speak to the supporters at every single meeting and I have always been honest about what is going on but I am at the ground every day so if anybody wants to come down and talk to me about it then they are welcome to.

“It was not a decision I took lightly but it is for the benefit of the club. The short term pain of going into administration isn’t ideal but it is needed to make sure the club survives.”

A decision will be taken at next month’s AGM of the Football Conference whether or not Vics will start their Blue Square North campaign with a minus-10 points deficit. It is the second time in five years the club has been in administration.

Rushe also revealed that he believed administration would not help his bid to buy the Marston’s Arena but his £1.5m deal would be complete by June 12.

He maintains that contracts have been exchanged between his consortium and ground receivers Deloitte.

Joel Byrom joined Stevenage Borough last week for £15,000. The goalcoring midfielder joins ex-Vics’ defender Mark Roberts and former manager Dino Maamria. Vics will receive 20% of any sell-on fee as part of the deal.