VICS start their FA Cup campaign this Saturday still without the prize money earned as reward for their run to the second round last term.

The game’s governing body holds close to £200,000 owed to the Evo-Stik League club.

“It remains with us as we are still in negotiations with the club’s former administrator,” said FA spokesman Mark Hooper.

“We continue to liase with Northwich in relation to various matters, but I can’t comment any further as these discussions are confidential.”

He was not able to say when, or indeed if, a resolution was likely.

Nor could he confirm whether Vics would be paid the £3,000 on offer if they win their first qualifying round clash at Salford City.

Vics’ owner Jim Rushe revealed on Tuesday that he had been invited to attend a meeting with FA officials at Wembley next week.

He said: “I think that’s the best way to get everything sorted.

“We’re happy to sit around a table and talk through any remaining reservations the FA still has.”

Neither party has been prepared to reveal what the remaining obstacles are, nor why it has taken so long to overcome them.

The Guardian contacted administrator Gary Pettit, from finance experts Marshman Price, on Friday but has not had a reply.

Ironically it is success on the pitch that has led to the stand off.

Andy Preece guided Vics to the second round of the FA Cup last November – that’s ten months ago – a run which included two ties broadcast live on terrestrial television.

Prize money from winning four matches, plus fees for appearing on ITV, totals close to £200,000.

The FA did not pay out initially because the company that pays the players’ wages, Northwich Victoria Football Club (2004) Ltd, was in administration.

A Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) to pay a 42p dividend for every pound of Vics’ six-figures debt was agreed with creditors before Christmas, but has not been ratified by the FA.

In it Rushe proposes a new firm, Northwich Victoria Football Club (2007) Ltd, buys the old one and takes on the responsibility of paying off the remaining debts in monthly instalments over a fixed period.

NVFC (2004) Ltd’s membership of both the FA and the Northern Premier League would need to be transferred to the new company as a result.

But to do that it needs the game’s governing body’s approval.

Its criteria include shareholders’ approval of the transfer, no outstanding football creditor debts plus all other creditors ‘satisfied and evidenced’ as such.

The new member club must come up with a forecast showing its ability to trade for the next 12 months, plus prove the sources of those funds are in place.

Vics’ period in administration came to an automatic end in May, but the club was given permission to carry on trading since while discussions with the FA continued.

“The sale agreement [to the new company] is in place subject to the club’s membership of the FA being transferred successfully,” Pettit told the Guardian in May.

“We’ve had to spend time making sure our plans comply with various football and financial regulations.

“The FA is just looking for comfort to make sure we’re not talking about Northwich again in the same terms 18 months down the line.”

It has not found comfort enough, yet.

Meanwhile the Northern Premier League, home to Vics after they were kicked out of the Football Conference this summer, is an interested observer.

Chairman Mark Harris said: “We are aware a meeting has been proposed between the FA and the club.

“Our support for Northwich as one of our member clubs is moral but, like every other league competition, we must abide by any decision the governing body makes.

“However this situation started when Vics were still members of the Football Conference, so it’s fair to say we don’t have all the facts or know the whole back story.

“But we will do what we can to help.”