EDDIE Davies arrived at Bolton Wanderers Football Club as its saviour but does he stand to leave as the man behind its downfall?

The lifelong fan, a Farnworth boy made good, Davies was the man billed as the only viable option back in 2003 as the club urged shareholders into voting him in and rendering their own shares worthless.

Through the Premier League glory years, we were repeatedly told that none of this would have been possible without the financial backing of the Isle of Man businessman and his collection of offshore companies and trusts.

But now, as his club heads towards Monday’s High Court winding-up order, we ask: Should the responsibility for this mess rest on his shoulders?

Davies signalled his intention to sell Wanderers more than 12 months ago, leaving negotiations to the man he trusted for so many years to steer the ship, chairman Phil Gartside.

Funding was quickly withdrawn, although Davies’s guarantees allowed the Whites to pass last season’s Financial Fair Play test without the sanctions they face right now.

Offers came and went during the course of the year. Gartside commented just once on the record, to dismiss a statement from Thai company BEC Tero’s manging director Bryan Marcar that claimed he had struck a good working relationship.

Requests for interviews or updates on the takeover were rejected. But when Gartside fell seriously ill and was forced to stand down from his duties, the rate at which the financial turmoil unfolded was truly dizzying.

Davies acted swiftly to bring in freelancer Trevor Birch to do his negotiating and then Terry Robinson to take care of player contracts.

The flow of information improved from within but the situation seems to have grown worse by the day.

Staff have been left worrying unnecessarily about their wages, players left unpaid and their confidence shot, assets have been sold and worse is to come unless a buyer is agreed soon.

Any time now steps could be taken to go into administration; should that happen then more resources will be stripped from the club to leave it in a worse position than when Davies first arrived.

The potential sale of Zach Clough and Mark Davies, the proceeds of which could actually fund administration, is the final straw.

Eddie Davies must act now. Fans deserve to know what is happening to their football club.

If a worthwhile offer is on the table, take it. If not, at least let the people who have ploughed their own hard-earned cash into Wanderers for the last 13 years know that it’s time to tighten their belts. They’ve done it before and can do it again.

It is encouraging to see the widespread positive response to the Supporters' Trust, proof positive that this set of fans will not let their club disappear quietly into the abyss.

Bolton Wanderers Football Club is a resource for the community. Eddie Davies should start treating it like one.