Crisis club Croydon Athletic could have its rent debt written off by landlord Croydon Council in an attempt to keep the team alive.

The beleaguered team is believed to owe about £28,000 in rent on the Keith Tuckey stadium in Thornton Heath after the assets of owner Mazhar Majeed were frozen following allegations of money laundering in August.

Although the council is looking at ways of getting the money back, a council source said it was willing to cancel the debt to avoid being seen as responsible for the club’s possible demise.

The club’s future has been thrown into doubt after it became mixed up in the Pakistani cricket betting scandal, with Mr Majeed alleged to have used the club to launder dirty money from illicit gambling deals.

Manager Tim O’Shea and his coaching team quit on September 4 after announcing no wages had been payed to staff and players for three weeks.

Ryman League bosses have given the club until September 18 to find a new owner or face expulsion from the competition.