Players quitting and Bolton takeover now on verge of collapse

THE shameful situation at Bolton — which saw yesterday’s clash with Brentford called off in the midst of a player strike — has taken another shambolic turn with a proposed takeover now seemingly on the verge of collapse.

Officials from the English Football League told the crisis-hit Championship club that they must now fulfil their two remaining fixtures, playing their youngsters if they need to, in a statement which drew criticism and triggered claims the league was ordering academy players to break a picket line.

Responding to the EFL’s statement, relegated Bolton issued their own, accusing former Watford owner and potential buyer Laurence Bassini of reneging on a pledge to pay players while his takeover of the club was ongoing.

But on another dire day in the club’s history Bassini, who has previously been declared bankrupt and barred from holding a position of authority at a football league club for three years, hit back and claimed he had made no such promises.

Bolton’s players, who are still awaiting March’s wages, went on strike on Friday, leading to the suspension of the Brentford match by the EFL and plunging their final game at Nottingham Forest into doubt.

Following the cancellation, a club statement claimed that no money had been forthcoming from Bassini and said that current, heavily criticised owner Ken Anderson could not allow the process to continue and was now considering next steps. Bolton are due back in the High Court on May 8 over an unpaid £1.2 million tax bill.

In a response given to newspaper The Bolton News, Bassini denied those allegations, vowed to bring in forensic accountants, claimed he had not been handed a share certificate and added that he would ‘not hand money over blindly’.

The unseemly war of words appears to have done nothing to resolve the situation, with grave fears liquidation of the club may not be far off.

It is understood that at least one player has now handed in their notice with a view to leaving Bolton. The response to the strike, backed by the Professional Footballers Association, has been overwhelmingly positive.

But former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan slammed the move on Twitter, branding the strike ‘inexcusable’. He added: ‘The players are secured creditors and will always end up being paid, albeit late, which is, of course, wrong.

‘The ownership situation and conduct is appalling… but these players should have played in this instance for their fans.’

The EFL, who instantly deemed Bolton guilty of misconduct, said the club

would have been forced to fulfil the Brentford fixture but for the under-18 team playing on Thursday and the potential player-welfare issues that would have caused.

‘This same issue will not reoccur as the club is able to plan the players’ preparation and recovery time accordingly,’ they added.

‘It should be recognised that the resolution is not in our hands but we will assist where possible, with the long-term interests of Bolton Wanderers and its supporters, our priority.’ Those comments caused widespread anger among supporters on social media with BBC 5 Live presenter Mark Chapman among those to criticise. ‘So the EFL have suggested to put a whole load of kids in to take a stance against people who have made a principled decision on behalf of themselves and the workforce?’ he said. ‘They expect some kids to break what is in effect a picket line? That really, really annoys me.’

Under the guidance of Anderson, who paid himself £525,000 in his first year in charge after taking control in 2016, Bolton have plunged from one financial crisis to another, facing winding-up petitions six times in 18 months.

In 2005, Anderson was disqualified from being a company director and he remains deeply unpopular with supporters.

With wages late on more than one occasion, some members of staff have had to loan cash from relatives to put petrol in their cars and food on the table. This month’s salaries are due later this week.