FACING perhaps the most crucial few days of his chairmanship at Wanderers, Ken Anderson insists Wanderers are in stable financial health.

On the pitch, investment is a must as Phil Parkinson looks to add at least one more striker to help maintain an encouraging start to the season.

Rivals Blackburn Rovers, fresh out of League One, shelled out £6million for Nottingham Forest’s Ben Brereton this week, highlighting just how tough it has been to compete in the transfer market this summer.

But off the field there are significant challenges to meet too, and by the weekend we should know if Anderson has been successful in negotiating a deal with finance company BluMarble, due repayment on a loan worth more than £4million.

The Bolton owner has spoken confidently about dealing with the BluMarble debt but, nevertheless, concerns have mounted behind the scenes about what could happen should he fail to refinance.

Anderson is currently fighting on a number of financial fronts, including a winding-up petition presented by catering partners Heathcote & Co which remains live in the High Court.

But while the balance remains delicate, he insists Wanderers are in their best financial position since he arrived two years ago.

Net debt stood at around £22million in the last set of accounts and it is expected this year’s figures will show a small profit for the first time since 2006 when the club was playing in the Premier League and UEFA Cup.

And though stabilisation has come via cost-cutting, not least on wages which are now less than half of what they were 12 years ago, Anderson feels there is scope for optimism.

“When I came in we were losing £18million a year, had debts here, there and everywhere, and we have gradually managed and worked our way out of it. There’s still some way to go but as I have said we probably have one of the lowest debts in the Championship at the moment,” he said.

“I believe we will be showing a small profit and as far as I’m aware we will be the only club to do that.

“We have been fortunate in achieving a net surplus on transfers and I believe we’ve managed our squad and have strengthened and achieved cover in each position.

“We have had to fight some of the commercial contracts we inherited and are still fighting the last one. I hope that will eventually settle.

“The club has become more stable. The key is bringing in more income. Hopefully we will sell more season tickets.

“Commercial income, we need to get more in, and we are doing so. The university is a far better deal all round than we had previously, the shirt sponsor was a better deal than we had previously and in July the hotel had their best-ever month, revenue-wise, and the club shop have already had their best ever month this August since I have been at the club.

“Generally the club, hotel and club shop are running far better. I hope to show a profit this year, albeit a small one, whereas most clubs out there are losing millions of pounds.

“I would say this club is in a much better position on and off the field than it was when I came in two years ago.”