LAURENCE Bassini, the man on the verge of becoming the new owner of Bolton Wanderers, has pledged to make the club “strong again”.

The 49-year-old property developer has completed a deal to purchase Ken Anderson’s 94.5 per cent stake in Wanderers’ parent company Burnden Leisure and, subject to EFL ratification, will officially take the reins in the next few days.

Insolvency practitioners Rubin and Partners were set to be brought in as administrators up until this morning (Wednesday) when Bassini finally struck a deal with Anderson to keep the club solvent.

The former Watford owner admits the timescale has made it difficult to get all the information on debts he is buying into – including those of secured creditors.

But he is convinced he has the available funding to get Wanderers moving back in the right financial direction after some difficult times.

“We worked very, very hard through the night to get the deal done. It was very close to going into administration this morning and probably in the 11th hour we did it,” he said.

“Throughout the night we were going through contracts and detail.

“Money will be going into the club to deal with all the things that need to be sorted out. Obviously, I don’t know all the debts yet, obviously we have to go through all the things and people that are owned money because I don’t know, I don’t have all that information.

“The priority was to save the club going into admin and the drama it would obviously cause.

“Now we have to look to restructure, sort it and move this club back up to where it belongs.”

Bassini has yet to pass the EFL’s directors and owners’ test but says he has filled in the necessary paperwork and does not envisage any problems.

Fans have raised concerns over his two bankruptcies and a three-year EFL ban which has now expired following an acrimonious 13-month spell as the owner and chairman of Watford, a situation which is still subject to legal matters.

Bassini says he will not be taking a hands-on role on the board at Wanderers – and will be seeking the help of Sir Dave Richards, the former Premier League chairman and a close ally of ex-Bolton chairman Phil Gartside.

John Williams, the former Blackburn Rovers chief executive and West Brom chairman, is another person who could come aboard the new-look club structure.

Ex-Wanderers vice-chairman Brett Warburton is another name who has been mentioned by Bassini, although the life-long supporters has played down suggestion he could make a return to the club.

"I learned a very big lesson at Watford. I didn't have control,” Bassini said.

"Even though I was there, I was used to sitting back while everybody just did what they liked.

"That's not going to happen here and that's why I'll be bringing the right people in with me.

“I look forward to success and to build again, to become strong again and secure.

"Ken Anderson has moved on. I hope to bring in Dave Richards - former chairman of the Premier League - and John Williams, who was at Blackburn Rovers. They are very well-respected guys.

"I'm hoping Brett Warburton will come, and one other person.

"I will be the owner but I will not be coming on as a director or chairman. I think the board should have the right football people and my role will be getting hold of the finance to make sure we don't have to worry about things all the time.

"There's a lot I need to look at. I didn't get all the information that I needed but I wasn't about to let them go into administration."

Financial problems have affected every corner of life at Wanderers in the last six months and even as Bassni was announced as the potential new owner of the club, debts owed to the emergency services threatened the stadium’s safety certificate for this Friday’s game against Aston Villa.

It is expected the match will go ahead, although official confirmation from Bolton Council and the SAG is not expected until Thursday.

Debts have piled up, including pay to players and coaching staff, and a near-£3m bill awaiting the club at the High Court on May 8, where a number of creditors including HMRC are waiting.

“It is a mess, but we’ll work hard, going forward, we’ll clean up what we need to sort out there and obviously I am bringing in a very good team to deal with the football club,” Bassini said. "We want to get back to the Premier League. That's the ultimate goal and one day also to get into Europe - and we will.

"Bolton is a big club. They've had some big problems but that will change going forward."

Bassini has also been quoted by the Daily Telegraph as saying he wants to re-name one of the stands at the UniBol in memory of late owner, Eddie Davies.

“It’s the least the man deserves,” he said.