THE future of Croydon Athletic should become clearer within the next 24 hours after the club held urgent talks with Ryman League officials.

The Rams have spent the week in shock after their owner Mazhar Majeed was arrested in connection with an alleged international cricket betting scam, following an undercover investigation by a national newspaper.

It was also claimed by the newspaper that Majeed, 35, had admitted using Croydon Athletic for money laundering. HM Customs & Excise descended on the KT Stadium in Thornton Heath on Tuesday to go through the club's accounts.

Majeed has bankrolled Croydon Athletic to the Ryman League Premier Division in his two years as owner.

He had not been charged with any crime at the time of going to press, but with his future involvement with the club remaining uncertain, the Rams' ability to continue to pay their staff has also been plunged into doubt.

Speaking to the Advertiser on Thursday morning, Croydon Athletic chairman David Le Cluse said the following "48 hours" would determine whether the club's options for survival could be put into practice.

"We have had a meeting with Nick Robinson [Ryman League company secretary and vice-chairman] and Alan Turvey (Ryman League chairman) this week," said Le Cluse.

"We had a long discussion about the various options and things we can do and we will know in the next 48 hours if we can put those plans into action."

Le Cluse was not prepared to reveal the nature of those "plans", saying he had not yet briefed the players.

The club have confirmed they will fulfil their fixture at home to Concord Rangers tomorrow, a game that had been in some doubt with the uncertainty over the ability to pay players.

Asked if the players had been paid this week, Le Cluse replied: "That is why I had the meeting with Alan Turvey and Nick Robinson. I am not going to comment on that."

Claims of inflated player wages at Croydon Athletic have circulated in the national media this week, with accusations being levelled at the club that, under Majeed's stewardship, they invested large amounts of cash to bring success.

But the chairman insisted the players and management were not there for the money.

"The players want to be at the club for the managers - all the rumours that are going round [about players on big wages] are rubbish," he said.

"They are there because Tim O'Shea and Neil Smith are probably the best two managers in that league. They are fantastic at their job and all the players who played at Carshalton Athletic on Monday want to carry on.

"If they were here for the money they would have gone by now."

Majeed was arrested on Saturday on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud bookmakers, before being released on bail.

The News of the World claimed it had paid a middle man £150,000 to arrange the bowling of three no-balls by Pakistan players during the Test match against England at Lord's.

The paper's report alleged that Majeed, a cricket agent, had admitted to using Croydon Athletic to launder money. Immediately after he was released on bail on Sunday night, Majeed was arrested again in connection with the money laundering claims before being bailed again pending further enquiries.

The visit of Customs & Excise officials to the club on Tuesday was confirmed by Le Cluse, who said: "[The officials] were perfectly happy - they didn't remove anything and were more than happy with what they saw. There is nothing to be concerned about."

Le Cluse added that those on the club's board will do "everything in our power to save the club".

A statement released by Croydon Athletic said: "The club wishes to state that it has no knowledge of the matters referred to in the press reports.

"The club wishes to make it clear that it will fully co-operate with the police investigation, and any subsequent enquiry with the relevant cricket or football authorities.

"Everyone at the club remains committed to ensuring the continued success of the football club."