Bolton Wanderers have announced they are to enter into administration in a bid to save the club from financial ruin, meaning a 12-point deduction next season in League One.
Failure to pay players and staff their wages during the season led to a strike and the postponement of their penultimate Championship match against Brentford.
The EFL eventually scrapped the match and handed the Bees handed a 1-0 victory, with Laurence Bassini’s prospective takeover failing to materialise.
Chairman Ken Anderson claimed he was left with no choice but to pursue administration.
An official statement read: “Paul Appleton and Asher Miller of David Rubin & Partners have today been appointed as Joint Administrators of Bolton Wanderers Football & Athletic Club (BWFC) and Burnden Leisure Limited (BLL) in the High Court of Justice.
“Both appointments were made following the Notices of Intention to appoint administrators filed by Fildraw Limited last week, which followed a long period of uncertainty since the presentation of a petition by HMRC.
“Fildraw Limited is a company through which the Trust representing the family of the late Eddie Davies lent substantial sums to the club.
“The decision was finally made for the appointments which it is hoped will ensure the continued existence of the club, one of the founding members of the Football League.”
Paul Appleton said: “This has obviously been a long-running situation and it is vitally important that we quickly establish the position of both the football club and the holding company.
“It has got to the stage where the Trust could not sit back and allow the club to go into liquidation. Decisive action had to be taken and the Trust believes the decision is in the best interests of Bolton Wanderers.”
“Everybody at the club as well as the supporters need a sense of clarity and that is what I will be seeking to provide as quickly as possible.”
