Leyton Orient have been served a winding up petition by the HMRC and will appear in court next month.

According to The Gazette, official public record, Orient were presented this on Thursday, February 2.

A winding up petition is presented in court and if not satisfied the judge can then make up an order.

This is described as the process of selling all the assets of a business, paying off creditors, distributing any remaining assets to the partners or shareholders and then dissolving the business

The club and the creditors are to attend High Court on Monday, March 20 where the court will decide, according to the Football League paper, if the O's are likely to pay the £250,000 sum.

If not they risk being liquidated.

The notice also states any persons intending to appear on the hearing of the petition (whether to support or oppose it) must give notice of intention to do so to the petitioners or to their Solicitor.

Last night, The O's fell to a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Stevenage and now sit six points adrift of the safety spots in League Two after Hartlepool United defeated Crewe Alexandra 4-0.

Fans have flooded twitter this morning to discuss the turmoil two-and-half year reign under Italian owner Francesco Becchetti.

During this time, he has appointed nine managers with current Danny Webb admitting last week he will not be allowed to bring in any players to his already thin squad.

Becchetti bought the club in 2014 for £4million from Barry Hearn when they were one penalty spot kick away from entering the Championship.

Since then, they have dropped out of League One and look likely for the first time in 112-years to fall out of the Football League.

What has happened at Orient should serve as a warning to all football fans. Cherish your club...you don't want to go through this. #lofc — James Masters (@Masters_JamesD) February 28, 2017

So HMRC issue winding up order. If FB doesn't pay bill will the club be liquidated? — Peter Ranger (@DeadlyMonkfish) March 1, 2017

So someone buys a club and in less than three years they are on the brink of relegation and insolvency. Can you repair damage @BarryHearn https://t.co/gtjZhmC8UI — Luke Edwards (@LukeEdwardsTele) March 1, 2017

@GuardianOrient Becchetti does! Also some with so much wealth & supposed "support", for whom £4 mill would be a drop in the ocean? #lofc — John Wells (@WellsyOs) March 1, 2017

However, other fans have tweeted the O's faithful that their club have also received those orders and have come to nothing.

@Masters_JamesD Forest have had six of these in two years. It's obviously embarrassing, but likely won't come to anything. — Daniel Storey (@danielstorey85) March 1, 2017

But with the fans already worrying about Becchetti likely to put the club into administration and the LOFT declaring plans to set up a fighting fund of £100,000 in the likelihood of these events, they are starting to fear the worst.

Notts County and Nottingham Forest have both had winding up orders dismissed in the past few months.

The club have been approached for a comment.