Bolton Wanderers' future under renewed threat after takeover deal collapses - BBC Sport
The latest takeover deal to buy Bolton has collapsed with administrators warning the "process of closing down the company" could begin as early as Wednesday.
Bolton Wanderers are on the brink of liquidation after the latest deal to buy the club collapsed.

The League One side has until 17:00 BST on Tuesday to complete the sale or offer reasons for an extension, or face expulsion from the EFL.

But administrators say the 145-year-old club is not in a position to carry on trading and "the process of closing down" could start on Wednesday.

That would lead to its liquidation and the loss of over 150 jobs.

Paul Appleton, joint administrator for Bolton Wanderers, said the deal collapsed on Saturday and, despite working around the clock since, they are still some way from reaching a solution.

He said in a statement: "Unless there is a change of position from any of the parties involved, the process of closing down the club and ultimately placing Bolton Wanderers into liquidation will begin this week."

The EFL said that if Bolton, one of the founder members of the Football League in 1888, cannot complete the sale or provide credible plans to continue, they will be served with a 14-day notice for their expulsion from the league.

But that may prove irrelevant if Wanderers, who finished seventh in the Premier League and competed in Europe a little over a decade ago, cease to exist.

The club has been in administration since May, saw manager Phil Parkinson quit in midweek and conceded five goals for a third consecutive game in front of a record low crowd at the University of Bolton Stadium on Saturday.

EFL executive chair Debbie Jevans said on Sunday: "What is really disappointing is that on Saturday morning, our understanding was that all the parties involved had signed off and the deal was going to be completed yesterday morning.

"Then something happened, a signature wasn't provided and therefore it was postponed again. This is incredibly frustrating. It has been going on for months."

Describing the collapse, Appleton added: "At this stage, there seems little point in apportioning blame because that makes no difference to the staff, players, management, supporters and the community who have once more seen their club taken back to the brink.

"On Sunday evening, there was some tentative dialogue but we are still some way from reaching a solution. Therefore, I am appealing to those parties whose position seems intractable to do everything to reach a compromise.

"In just over 24 hours, the club will have its membership of the EFL revoked. Over and above that, the club is currently not in a position to carry on trading and, as such, the process of closing down the company will commence on Wednesday.

"This will ultimately lead to its liquidation, the expulsion of the club from the EFL and the inevitable loss of over 150 jobs. More than that, it will devastate a community for whom the football club is a beacon of hope and expectation."

This has set panic alarms ringing across the University of Bolton Stadium - with a real fear that the club may not have a future.

There are four options that face Bolton in the next 24 hours: three positive, one severely negative.

The first being that somehow the parties involved revert to the agreed deal that was in place on Friday.

The second would see a compromise between Ken Anderson and the Eddie Davies Trust - creditors who are owed around £7m.

The third option, with so little time remaining, is that another buyer comes to the table with cash.

The fourth is the most concerning. Administration cannot be afforded for much longer, and therefore a process of winding-up the club and liquidation could begin as soon as Wednesday morning.