Bolton staff may not be paid this month as the club continues to struggle for funds
Wednesday 20 January 2016 15:10, UK
Bolton have confirmed that their players and staff may not be paid on time in January as the Championship club continues to face severe financial problems.
Wanderers appeared in the High Court earlier this week over a £2.2m unpaid tax bill to HM Revenue and Customs and, despite the tax authority having brought a winding up petition, they were given a five-week adjournment until 22 February to remedy their cash problems.
The club's financial advisor Trevor Birch is negotiating with four interested parties about a takeover from owner Eddie Davies but, in the meantime, Bolton need to sell their assets in order to stay afloat.
And, having not yet managed to push through deals to sell a car park at the ground or any of their players, the Trotters may not be able to pay the staff on Thursday as scheduled.
A statement read: "Bolton Wanderers has stated that due to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the club's current funding position, it has been unable to confirm to its staff today that they will receive their wages for the month of January on the due dates.
"Every effort continues to be made by the board of directors and its advisers to pay staff and also resolve the longer term funding issue during what remains a difficult and challenging time for the football club."
Davies is very keen to sell the club and, while he is willing to write off debts he is owed, he does not want to plough more money in.
Manager Neil Lennon's players were not paid in November and only the sale of offices at the ground, plus a contribution from the PFA, meant they received their pre-Christmas pay packet.
Bolton are reportedly confident that they will be able to pay staff and players again after they finalise a deal to sell a car park on the ground, which lies next to a retail park.
It looked like upwards of £2m was going to be raised last week by the sales of Mark Davies and Zach Clough to Sheffield Wednesday and Bristol City respectively but the planned deals both fell through.
Bolton have managed to earn £67,500 in prize money after beating non-league Eastleigh in an FA Cup third round replay on Tuesday night, setting up a tie with Leeds in round four.
