Bolton Wanderers administrators will pay non-football related staff, while funds permit

Administrators of Bolton Wanderers FC have agreed to pay the wages of non-football related staff, while funds permit.

A decision on football-related employees will be made in the next few days, they said.

Paul Appleton and Asher Miller of David Rubin & Partners were brought in to both Bolton Wanderers Football & Athletic Club (BWFC) and Burnden Leisure Limited (BLL), on May 13.

The club said the administrators had officially been appointed in a bid to “ensure the continued existence” of the side, which has been relegated to League One.

It followed the apparent collapse of a proposed takeover by former Watford owner Laurence Bassini.

Staff had not been paid wages while the takeover issue had rumbled on, but Paul Appleton, the joint administrator for Bolton Wanderers, has confirmed that all non-football related staff will receive their salaries for the period following the joint administrators’ appointment last week.

They will, pursuant to the insolvency rules, adopt the employment contracts of those employees from the time of administration (May 13) and will review the position on a month-by-month basis.

Mr Appleton said: “I understand this has been a period of great uncertainty, which has caused considerable hardship for so many members of staff.

“The loyalty shown has been remarkable and it is clear the football club could not function on a day-to-day basis without the sacrifices they have made.

“On that basis, the administrators undertake to pay wages and holiday pay to all non-playing staff from the time of our appointment.”

He added: “The first payment will be this week with staff receiving a week’s pay in arrears and a week in advance. They will then be paid on a weekly basis from the administration, until such time as a new owner is found whilst funds permit.

“Unfortunately, we cannot pay any wages outstanding from before the date of our appointment.”

He said: “There will be an update on the position of all football-related employees in the next few days.”