Wanderers fire sale as club battles to pay staff
BOLTON Wanderers have said they are unable to guarantee their staff will be paid on the due day next week as a “fire sale” continues to raise necessary funds.
The up-for-sale club, which this week succeeded in getting a winding up order over a £2.2m unpaid tax bill postponed until February 22, is attempting to ease its debt by selling a car park next to the Macron Stadium.
Until that deal is confirmed, the club said there could be no guarantee its staff would be paid on Thursday (January 28).
A statement said: “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.”
Staff were paid in December despite the withdrawal of funding support by the owner Eddie Davies.
However, Neil Lennon’s players did not receive their November wages and were paid last month only as a result of the sale of offices at the ground together with funds from the PFA.
It is understood that financial adviser Trevor Birch is in talks with four interested parties about a takeover from Davies, and everything is up for sale at the Macron Stadium, including assets and players.
Sales of Mark Davies and Zach Clough to Sheffield Wednesday and Bristol City which would have raised in excess of £2m fell through last week.
Players may be loaned out soon just to reduce the wage bill. The club has said it cannot afford to pay the former Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi after his short-term deal expires at the weekend.
