THE ownership race at Bolton Wanderers looks set to last the Bank Holiday weekend with up to FOUR different bids claiming to be working on a deal.

A court decision to wind-up Dean Holdsworth’s Sports Shield BWFC company last Monday has thrown a third of the shares in the club on to the open market.

Liquidators are hoping to conclude a swift sale without the need to interject on behalf of BluMarble, the finance company owed more than £5 million from a loan taken out to buy the club last March.

Chairman Ken Anderson, whose Inner Circle Investments company owns a 57.5 per cent stake, is looking to buy the remaining shares and settle the debt, but has declined to comment on his progress.

At least three other parties are also understood to have made contact with receivers, including a Bolton-based businessman and an Englishman acting on behalf of investors in the United States.

It is understood talks are ongoing, but with no conclusion expected within working hours on Friday the matter is now almost certain to spill over until Tuesday.

If an agreement cannot be reached over the weekend, liquidators will seek investigate how they could raise money on the sale of assets.

The original BluMarble loan was secured against the Macron Stadium itself and the Whites Hotel – although it is likely a legal dispute would be mounted by the club should that course of action go ahead.

The Football League have also confirmed they will meet next month to discuss whether the liquidation of SSBWFC contravenes any of their rules of club governance.