PLAYERS and staff at Bolton Wanderers are waiting with fingers crossed for news on whether the ongoing takeover will affect the payments of February salaries at the club.
In what could be a crucial 24 hours, a consortium, understood to be the Football Ventures (Whites) Limited group, continue to carry out due diligence on the club’s books.
However, it is becoming increasingly likely that a sale will not be concluded before next week, which leaves incumbent owner Ken Anderson liable for this month’s pay, due tomorrow (Thursday, February 28).
Club sources say there has not been any indication internally that pay will be late or affected – but there is legitimate concern that a similar issue could arise to that experienced in 2016 in the midst of the previous takeover.
On the final day of last month, staff and players were paid at various stages throughout the day, some part-time employees reporting that their payment had only cleared the following morning.
Anderson defended his record on salary payment in January, stating: “Despite the regular references to the non-payment of players’ salaries the reality is that the majority of the players’ salaries have only been paid late once in nearly three years since I have been at the club. The other 400 plus employees throughout the club and hotel have never been paid late.”
Club captain David Wheater admitted earlier this week that he had been worried over pay but said the players would continue to prepare as normal.
Otherwise it was business as usual yesterday for Phil Parkinson and his squad, who will be without the suspended Jason Lowe this weekend, following the midfielder’s 10th booking of the season, picked up against Leeds United on Saturday.
Lowe had actually been on nine cautions for the last six league games but he will now miss the forthcoming fixtures against Swansea City and Millwall.
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