THE precarious financial balance at Wanderers was briefly laid bare yesterday after a delay in paying player wages.

Warning bells sounded after the squad reported their November salary had not been paid into their accounts as scheduled.

It was exactly a year to the day since the Whites were forced to concede they could not pay their players – a point which marked the start of the financial crisis at the Macron Stadium which ran well into 2016.

On this occasion, however, nerves were quickly calmed. Chairman Ken Anderson is understood to have sanctioned an 11th hour payment from his own pocket after getting assurances from Dean Holdsworth that he would sell his 40 per cent stake.

Anderson had warned how serious the cash-flow situation had become earlier this week, telling The Bolton News that administration could be a “last resort” if his share buy-out did not go through.

The slight delay with yesterday’s wages was a consequence of how tight the margins had become for the Whites and fans will hope for no more dramas if Anderson is confirmed, as expected, as sole owner.

Discussions continued last night with finance company Blumarble over a high interest loan of more than £6million which is secured against assets, including the stadium. The loan had been taken out by Holdsworth’s Sports Shield company when they completed the takeover earlier this year and is expected to swell to around £7.4m if the current rates and terms are not renegotiated.

Meanwhile, negotiations have forced Anderson to postpone a meeting with the Football League, which had been pencilled in for today.

“I think the meeting would be more constructive when we have got everything agreed,” he told The Bolton News yesterday. “Hopefully, we should be able to reschedule for next week when things are sorted.”

On the pitch, Phil Parkinson is looking forward to a big match atmosphere for the visit of Sheffield United in the FA Cup second round.

The Blades lost at home to Walsall on Tuesday night and have currently shifted around 2,000 away tickets.

“It’s going to be a good game for us, one of our league rivals,” Parkinson said.