by Daniel Jones

CRYSTAL Palace administrator Brendan Guilfoyle is optimistic that there will be no last-minute glitches before Friday's cut-off point for creditors to appeal against the proposed company voluntary arrangement (CVA).

A huge majority voted in favour of CPFC 2010's rescue package at a meeting at Selhurst Park at the end of last month.

Only Her Majesty Revenue & Customs voted against the deal that would allow the club to exit administration without a further points penalty from the Football League.

However, the tax-office has been increasingly vocal in its disapproval of how football club's finances are being spent, and only last week appealed against the CVA to save Portsmouth from administration.

HMRC have until the courts close on Friday at 4pm to register an appeal against 2010's proposals but Guilfoyle is hopeful that it will not come to that.

"I'm pretty confident as it stands," he said. "HMRC have been throwing their weight about lately and could wait until the last minute to appeal.

"But our case is very different to the one at Portsmouth. I think I'm correct in saying their main objection to that CVA was to do with image rights and there are no image rights at Crystal Palace.

"You never know until the 28 days have passed, but I've been speaking with HMRC and I'm pretty confident there won't be a challenge."

Even if there is no opposition from the tax-man, Palace will still have to wait a little longer before they are officially out of administration.

"Once the 28-day period has expired then the Football League will complete their due diligence and, all being well, transfer the Football League share to CPFC 2010," explained Guilfoyle. "Once that is done, that's it and I'm gone."

*See Friday's Croydon Advertiser for the latest Palace news