Manager Iain Polworth, who is preparing his players for Saturday's Highland League game at home to Wick Academy, confirmed his Lilywhites won't miss out on their money.

"I know for certain that the players will be paid this week," he said.

"We will see what happens over the next seven days and see where we stand when matters become a bit clearer."

The community rallied behind the 123-year-old side on Monday after Clach directors' shock and sudden announcement.

Many say the door is now open for a fresh pair of hands – a new business investor – to save the day and a fighting fund could also be established to keep Clach in play.

The Highland League club's chairman David Dowling has given Clach, which faced council court action over its debts, a 50/50 chance of survival but even he admits there is still hope of finding a new buyer.

The Highland News understands the club's fixtures will remain unchanged for the moment and there will be no penalty or deduction of points because it has gone into administration.

However, John Grant, Highland League and North of Scotland Football Association secretary, could only say that he was awaiting contact from the administrators and could make no further comment until then.

Clach directors said it was with "great regret" it entered administration and have also written to the First Minister Alex Salmond requesting an investigation into Highland Council's handling of the case.

They took a swipe at the council, blaming its actions in trying to recover more than £46,500 in debt owed to Inverness Common Good Fund for ground rental, for providing the final body blow "forcing" the club into administration.

They claimed their decision followed a letter received last week from the council "demanding" the club's monthly repayment of £400 must increase by 850 per cent to £3,800 per month.

The directors' also claimed the council's request for a "viable" business plan by the end of last week, instead of an agreed date of November 2, made "an already difficult task impossible" and was "the final straw".

But a council spokesman stressed mention of new repayments had only been an option, not a demand, and the authority needed to see the business plan to discuss it a few days before an Inverness city committee meeting on Monday .

Earlier this year, one rescue plan considered by Clach, allowing it to pay off its debts, was the building of a block of 18 flats on its ground, in a tie-up with construction firm William Gray, which would buy the social club.

Mr Dowling stressed a business plan had been submitted to the council and the club's two main creditors, Carlsberg and Royal Bank of Scotland, and was also discussed with HM Revenue and Customs. He said all the creditors were behind the proposal with the exception of the council.

"The irony here is that, by taking this action, the council, as an unsecured creditor, will now almost certainly receive none of the money due to them and have also caused a number of small creditors to lose out," said the directors.

Inverness Central councillor Donnie Kerr, in whose ward Grant Street park stands, was disappointed at the way the directors had issued their statement – to the media and not the council, which has been in talks with the club over the past year about its outstanding debt.

Cllr Kerr said the council had, on several occasions, tried to help the club and laid the blame for its demise at its own door.

He added: "In my opinion when a ship sinks, it is the captain who is responsible."

He explained councillors had given Clach more leeway than others who were in debt and said a club business plan, submitted earlier this year, was lacking information and was not viable.

"Instead of blaming us, they should be thanking the council for bending over backwards to help them out.

"Quite honestly, they seemed to have jumped the gun – they have accused the council of closing them down when they, themselves, have closed themselves down."

Meanwhile, fellow ward councillor Peter Corbett, whose brother and son have shares in the club, said he hoped it would survive.

He stressed he had not been actively involved in the debate due to his family interest but said Clach had not helped themselves over the years.

Cllr Corbett, a former Clach player and manager, accused the board management of lacking leadership and of missing the chance earlier this year to get new investors – understood to be Inverness Caledonian Thistle's majority shareholder David Sutherland and ICT's former chairman Alan Savage.

"It is a shame that they did not get two of the biggest employers and two of the richest men in Inverness when they showed an interest," he said.

"It was a club on its back, with its legs stuck in the air, still struggling to move on and it would not allow either of these two people in. Maybe that could still be revived?"

Mr Dowling added: "I really hope there is somebody out there but people have known for some time that I was willing to stand down and there was an opportunity for someone to come in."

He explained Mr Sutherland could not have stepped in because SFA rules preclude him from having a controlling interest in any other club and claimed Mr Savage had wanted a larger share-holding than could be worked out at the time.

* The club's Lily Lotto will not be affected because it is a separate company.

o.bell@highland-news.co.uk

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