THE Bolton Whites Hotel has shut its doors for at least 48 hours as the financial crisis at Wanderers cut deeper.

A decision has been taken to close the business temporarily because the health and safety of guests could no longer be guaranteed.

Staff at the hotel have not been paid their wages for April and it is understood the hotel could no longer pay bills for basic functions such as laundry or pool cleaning.

Guests currently residing at the hotel have been asked to leave by 3.45pm and those asking about rooms were told over the last 24 hours that they could not book beyond today.

Conferencing and banqueting facilities should remain unaffected, as they are governed by catering company Heathcote & Co.

“All our team is on a rota until Sunday,” explained Paul Heathcote. “There may be a few jobs we’ll do that we wouldn’t normally do but we will honour everything we possibly can.

“Hopefully this sorry mess will be sorted out quickly and some decision will be made which allow the hotel to continue trading.”

The closure is currently scheduled to last until Friday but could be extended depending on what happens to the ownership of the football club before the weekend.

Laurence Bassini is currently trying to buy Ken Anderson’s 94.5 per cent stake in Wanderers’ parent company, Burnden Leisure Limited, and met with the EFL yesterday to finalise the deal.

A statement released by the league last night confirmed, however, that he did not have the required documentation and that the London-based former Watford owner has now asked for 48 hours to resubmit.

Wanderers have been contacted for comment.