Bolton Wanderers chairman seriously ill
CASH-strapped Bolton Wanderers Football Club has announced that chairman Phil Gartside is seiously ill as a consortium fronted by former striker Dean Holdsworth looks poised for a takeover.
A statement on the Macron Stadium club’s website said the board had appointed football finance expert Trevor Birch to act on behalf of the club and owner Eddie Davies to lead a sale of the club.
“Trevor (will be) providing assistance to the board and owner which will include managing negotiations with the various parties who have expressed an interest in purchasing the club,” Bolton said.
Wanderers – with debts of £172.9m – are currently second-bottom of the Championship and have failed to make an impression since their relegation to football’s second tier from the Premier League following 11 years in the top flight in 2012.
Vice chairman Brett Warburton, said: “I’m sad to report that Phil is seriously ill at the moment and Trevor will now lead the negotiations on behalf of the board and the owner.
“Trevor is a football man who has great experience in dealing with clubs in difficult financial situations. We welcome his support in assisting us through this difficult period.
“Our current owner Eddie Davies is fully supportive of the appointment and will work closely with Trevor.
“Eddie has provided an incredible level of financial support which has brought the club great success and meant huge enjoyment to all fans.
“We all owe him an enormous debt of gratitude. Unfortunately, since relegation, we haven’t been able to turn things around on the pitch and regain promotion despite running a very high player wage bill.
“As the Premier League parachute funding disappears we need to find further funding to replace it.
“Eddie has indicated that he can’t provide any further funding and we have therefore been working hard to attract the appropriate investment to take this club forward.”
Meanwhile, The Bolton News has reported that Davies and his advisers are set to resume negotiations with the Holdsworth-fronted Sports Shield consortium about a takeover.
Although former Wanderers favourite Holdsworth is involved, it is believed he may be acting as an intermediary on behalf of a consortium of investors, which may also involve former managers and players Sam Allardyce and Phil Brown.
