Bolton Wanderers deal between Sports Shield, Inner Circle and Eddie Davies officially complete

The club said they are 'delighted' to announce the deal between Sports Shield, Inner Circle and Eddie Davies to transfer ownership.

In a statement, the club said the Sports Shield consortium, fronted by ex-Bolton striker Dean Holdsworth, and Inner Circle, owned by Ken Anderson, have taken control of Eddie Davies’ 94.5 percent controlling share of Burnden Leisure.

It added the remaining 5.5 percent of the Burnden Leisure shares will remain with individual shareholders.

The club said all documentation has been signed, submitted and ratified by the Football League.

Dean Holdsworth and Ken Anderson will both join the board of directors at Bolton Wanderers, with details on further roles to be announced in due course.

In acknowledgement of his contribution to the club, Eddie Davies, who initially joined the board of directors at Bolton Wanderers in 1999 before then becoming majority shareholder in 2003, will become honorary president of the club.

In a statement, Dean Holdsworth said: "On behalf of Sports Shield I would like to thank Mr Davies for his dedication and contribution to Bolton Wanderers over many years.

"We are of course pleased that Eddie will remain as honorary club president of Bolton Wanderers. 

"We would also like to thank the staff, fans and club sponsors for their continued support during what has been an incredibly difficult period for all involved. Securing the club’s future was of paramount importance. This is a great day for Bolton Wanderers Football Club and Sports Shield.

"We very much hope that we can build on the continued support of a club steeped in history for many years to come.

"We will not give up the fight of maintaining our Sky Bet Championship status. We believe we have a group of excellent players to work with and we hope that today’s news will give everyone a lift, both on and off the pitch.

"The performance and atmosphere against Ipswich Town was excellent and we hope that the fans will join us for an important game at the weekend against our local rivals Preston North End.

"Up the Trotters!"

Eddie Davies said: "It has been an honour to have initially been on the board of directors and then majority shareholder of the club I have supported all of my life. 

"From 11 years in the top flight and seeing us topple some of the Premier League’s greatest teams down the years, to two successful UEFA Cup campaigns, my memories will last a lifetime. Together we have had some great experiences and we should embrace our wonderful history.

"Recently, we have gone through what has been a challenging period both on and off the field, but we now hope that we can once again move our great football club forward.

"I of course wish Dean Holdsworth, Ken Anderson and the Sports Shield consortium all the very best and thank the supporters for their loyalty and continued backing of the club."

The Bolton News spoke to Wanderers fans in Bolton town centre to gauge their views on the takeover deal.

Matthew Boyle (below), aged 75, of Tonge Moor, said: "Somebody needs to do something, the club has been going in the wrong direction. 

"Hopefully Dean Holdsworth, as a former player, will have the interest in the club going forward, and not just the money side of it."

Peter Eckersley (below), aged 70, from Leigh, said: "I think anything like this to help the club is a positive thing. 

"I hope his heart is in the right place and that he can help get the club back to where it needs to be."

Jennifer Foy, aged 34, from Adlington, said: "It's a very positive move, because it is in keeping with the history of the club. 

"I hope in the new regime they continue to blood the younger players as Neil Lennon has been doing. Bolton is a historic club and hopefully Dean Holdsworth will keep the history going."

Ste Dyson (below), aged 38, from Deane, said: "Any help we can get on the financial side at the moment is welcome. I just hope that he is interested in developing the club as well and not just taking money out of it."

Barry Gore (below), aged 44, of Manchester Road, Bolton, said: "I just hope he is not an asset stripper, and that he has plans for the long term future of the club. 

"We know we are not going to be a Manchester United or a Manchester City, but there is no reason why we should become a Rangers or a Portsmouth."

Ste Wilson, aged 27, of Horwich, said: "Obviously the club is not doing very well on the pitch at the moment, so I hope they can put this behind them now and improve results, and maybe even stay up."

Timeline: The saga that ended with club’s new owner

November 6: After a report is published in the Daily Mail claiming job losses and administration are being feared by staff, Wanderers issue an official statement claiming there are “no threats” to employment. Senior sources also strongly deny that administration has been considered.
November 12: Neil Lennon is told by vice-chairman Brett Warburton that there is no money available for new signings, which leads to the club cancelling a deal with Wolves for Rajiv van la Parra and shelving interest in Liverpool’s Joao Teixeira and Huddersfield Town’s James Vaughan.
November 17: Wanderers confirm that Trevor Birch has been appointed as a financial advisor to the board and that chairman Phil Gartside is “seriously ill.”
November 23: It is confirmed that Eddie Davies would write off a net loss of £175million (now £180m) in loans accrued since he became majority shareholder in 1999. Trevor Birch describes the club as a “very attractive proposition”.
November 30: The first team squad are told that they will not be paid for the month of November.
December 1: Players and coaching staff are called to an emergency meeting at Euxton, mediated by the PFA, in which the full extent of the club’s financial problems are outlined, including possible administration.
December 7: It is discovered that HMRC are to petition the High Court for a winding up order over an unpaid £2.2m tax bill at Wanderers. An update is also provided on the health of chairman Phil Gartside, who is now described as “gravely ill”.
December 8: It emerges that staff at the Macron Stadium have been told there is “no guarantee” that the club be able to pay their wages in December without a new buyer on board.
December 12: Neil Lennon denies a report in The Sun that claims Eddie Davies is about to step back in and pay £1million in wages, confirming: “From what I gather staff and players won’t be getting paid this month.”
December 14: Lennon admits he is worried about players leaving on a free in January. If Wanderers do not pay the squad’s wages on December 30, players are legally free to submit a 12-day notice letter and leave for nothing.
December 30: Wanderers confirm they have found a short-term funding solution – namely the sale of offices at the Macron Stadium – which allows them to pay part of the players’ December wage. The PFA make up the rest.
January 4: The Bolton News confirms that some of the money raised from the sale of the offices will also pay off the outstanding loan from Nucleus Finance.
January 8: The Bolton News confirms that Wigan Athletic and Preston North End are both in talks to buy Wanderers’ training ground at Euxton.
January 12: Zach Clough turns down a £2m deal to join Bristol City.
January 13: News emerges that sale of car parking land could ease the pressure to sell players immediately and provide the basis of the club’s argument at their impending High Court case.
January 14: A £700,000 deal to sell Mark Davies to Sheffield Wednesday breaks down.
January 18: Wanderers earn an adjournment at the High Court.
February 19: Eddie Davies names Dean Holdsworth's Sport Shield Consortium as the preferred bidder.
February 22: Wanderers gain another adjournment from the High Court.
March 7: Whites are granted one last chance at the High Court, with the case adjourned until March 21.
March 10: Wanderers confirm deal between Sports Shield, Inner Circle and Eddie Davies to transfer ownership of the club