People power has proved vital in the fight to save Derry City from a winding-up order by the British taxman. The club are now in a position to pay off £51,000 of their outstanding debts after a huge fund-raising drive on Foyleside.

The money will be split between two of the club's creditors: £43,000 will go towards paying off their huge tax bill and £8,000 will go to a long-standing individual creditor.

The money will be handed in to the Belfast High Court today by the club's solicitors, just in time to save the club from closure. The scheduled winding-up order application is set to be heard today - but with the money in hand the club should be safe for the time being.

If the Celtic friendly, organised for October 2, is as successful as expected the club will be fully out of debt, with a margin of comfort for the immediate future.

Derry director Jim Roddy said: "This is a good day's work for Derry City. The people in the city have been great"