THE future of an Oxford Royal British Legion club was unclear last night after HM Revenue & Customs failed to get in touch over an unpaid tax bill.

Managers of the Marston RBL Club, which has more than 500 members, feared it would be shut down, due to tax arrears totalling £52,700.

Support from members has seen £9,000 donated within a week.

The committee hopes to negotiate a deal where the Hadow Road club can pay off its debts in instalments of £5,000 a month.

Despite HMRC officials telling club chairman Derrick Lancaster they would discuss the matter with him yesterday, no-one had been in touch as the Oxford Mail went to press.

Mr Lancaster, 65, said: “We haven’t heard a single thing from them.

“I’m miffed that no-one’s bothered to phone me, as I was expecting this call.

“It’s disappointing not to know either way, because we’re hanging by a thread still.”

On Monday, the club sent a bankers’ draft for £5,000 as a first instalment.

Oxford East MP Andrew Smith has also written to Dave Hartnett, the chairman of HM Revenue and Customs, asking for leniency over payments to cover the club’s debt.

Some members fear closure could also bring an end to the Marston branch of the RBL, which last year raised £8,434 for the annual Poppy Appeal.

Six people also face losing their jobs if the club shuts.

Mr Lancaster said: “I don’t know if their stance has changed behind the scenes, but we’ll keep battling on.”