WANDERERS were advanced money by the EFL to ensure their game against Ipswich Town went ahead on Saturday.

The Bolton News has learned that a central payment due in the middle of the month was fast-tracked to enable match-day staff and emergency services could be paid, allowing Bolton Council to revoke a prohibition order on the stadium.

It is understood that the name of Burnden Leisure Ltd, rather than Bolton Wanderers Football and Athletic Company, appeared on pay packets last week – which also prompted heavy speculation that Michael James, the Westhoughton businessman who is one of the key creditors at the club, had also provided money to pay staff.

Ken Anderson thanked both EFL chief executive Shaun Harvey and Michael James for their assistance last week in a statement posted on the official website.

It has also emerged that Wanderers feared Friday night’s computer crash could leave them needing to reschedule two league games in the final month of the season.

A power surge in the early hours of the morning is understood to have caused a malfunction in the UPS (uninterrupted power system), which is responsible for all online servers at the University of Bolton Stadium.

Ticketing systems were badly affected but the biggest concern was CCTV, which would have rendered the club’s safety certificate – awarded only at the last moment last week – completely useless.

Emergency engineers were called in and staff worked through the night to remedy the issues and finally saved the Ipswich game at 1.30am on Saturday.

But such was the extent of the crash, Wanderers and the EFL were fearful they would have to cancel Tuesday night’s game against Middlesbrough too.

It is understood current servers are around a decade old and that there is no major concern with their suitability in the future. Engineers were able to temporarily shift the operation to a smaller server to allow the game to go ahead but staff were still unable to answer email queries from supporters.

Electronic advertising hoardings and the scoreboard inside the ground were also affected.

Club chaplain Phil Mason, speaking on behalf of the Bolton Wanderers Community Trust, praised staff for working so hard to get the game played.

“Taking away all the rights and wrongs at Bolton Wanderers what needs placing on public record is the incredible determination, passion and resilience of the hard-working staff who have kept going and been loyal to the club in the most difficult and challenging circumstances.

“Whoever buys this Club need to recognise that the best assets they will acquire are these people who are so dedicated and committed and deserve real investment and to be valued.

“As the Chaplain I see first-hand every day what these people give to our beloved Bolton Wanderers and our community.”