SCARBOROUGH'S desperate bid to beat insolvency is likely to go right down to the wire, says the man charged with keeping the club afloat.

"It could go into injury time, so the saying in football goes," said Peter O'Hara of O'Hara and Co Insolvency Practitioners, who are guiding the Nationwide Conference club's bid to survive.

"It's still in the melting pot. In reality we're not likely to know whether we are successful until Friday, when the creditors meeting takes place."

Scarborough's fate could depend on the VAT man and Inland Revenue, who are both major creditors, but their final decisions are unlikely to be known until Friday's meeting.

However, O'Hara did say there were encouraging signs that the Nationwide Conference outfit would get the 75 per cent of the vote needed to continue operating.

If not, last night's 2-2 draw with Morecambe at the McCain Stadium - which saw good-natured demonstrations at half-time and after the full-time whistle - would be the club's last-ever match on their home ground where 1,536 attended.

"There are some delicate negotiations to go on. I had a good meeting with Scarborough Borough Council and, subject to dotting a few I's and crossing a few T's, they're likely to support the club in excess of £30,000, which will be much appreciated."

He added that negotiations with Halifax Town and Altrincham, who are owed transfer fees for Chris Tate and Paul Ellender, respectively, and John Smith's Breweries, who are believed to be owed about £50,000, are to go ahead before Friday's crucial creditors meeting which will decide the club's fate.

"There's also money owed to a number of players, though the proposed new owner (Brooks Mileson) and (caretaker manager) Neil Thompson are trying to resolve those problems," he added.