Bolton Wanderers stakeholder wound up in court

The company which owns 37.5% of the shares in Bolton Wanderers Football Club, Sports Shield BWFC, has been liquidated at the London Bankruptcy and Companies Court.

Finance company BluMarble filed a winding-up petition over a £5m loan taken out by Sports Shield in March last year and it was upheld yesterday (Monday, August 21).

Sports Shield BWFC owner and former Wanderers striker Dean Holdsworth did not contest the decision and his shares are now in the hands of the liquidators.

The Bolton News said talks took place between majority shareholder Ken Anderson, who still owns 57.5% of the shares, BluMarble, Holdsworth and prospective bidders throughout the weekend in an effort to avoid the company being dissolved but failed to reach a satisfactory conclusion.

Wanderers said: “We welcome the verdict and are currently speaking with our professional advisers.”

The English Football League added: “The EFL notes today’s decision of the court in relation to Sports Shield BWFC.

“The executive will review the decision in the context of our rules and provide a report to the board at its next scheduled meeting in September.”