The under-23s friendly between Everton and Wigan Athletic has been cancelled after the Latics said they were no longer able to send a side for the game.
Everton's youngsters were due to play a second warm-up game of the summer on Saturday at Finch Farm (3pm) but have been forced to scrap the fixture after Wigan's informed of their decision to withdraw.
The Blues believe the decision is related to the club's on-going administration issues.
Wigan are having to sell a clutch of their first-team players in order to pay staff and creditors with the Latics, who have been relegated to League One after being handed a 12 point deduction, having already sold a number of players.
Former Everton players Antonee Robinson and Joe Williams are expected to be sold in the coming days with the club's administrators putting an August 31 deadline for the sale of the stricken outfit.
And given the continued exodus of senior players, it is understood that many of those u-23s players due to face Everton this coming weekend are needed as part of a new-look first-team, preparing for next season, and so were no longer able to face the Blues.
Everton's u-23s opened their pre-season account at the weekend when they lost 2-1 to National League North side Southport, in a behind-closed-doors game at Finch Farm.
The cancelled Wigan friendly will not be replaced and so David Unsworth's side are next in action on Tuesday, August 25 against Chorley at Finch Farm.
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