BOLTON Wanderers are set to have an administrator appointed, a judge was told at the latest winding up hearing at London’s High Court today.

The club have been granted some breathing space, with another hearing now rescheduled to May 22 to allow the process – initiated by the trustees of former owner Eddie Davies – to take place.

The Bolton Wanderers Football and Athletic Company – one of the arms of parent company Burnden Leisure Limited – faced being wound up over unpaid debts to both HMRC and other creditors of more than £1.2million.

At the court this morning, Judge Clive Jones was told that “a notice of intention to appoint an administrator (NOI)” had been issued by a secured creditor, Fildraw, the Eddie Davies Trust.

As a result of this latest move all parties sought an adjournment to clarify The Bolton Wanderers Football and Athletic Company Ltd’s financial affairs. The judge granted an adjournment "to await the appointment of an administrator or the relaxing of the Paragraph 15 notice [notice of intention]."

The Bolton Whites Hotel also faced a winding-up petition from the taxman with Judge Clive Jones told that an NOI had been issued by a secured creditor, Prescott Business Park Ltd.

The case had previously been adjourned from April 17 for the sale of Bolton Wanderers Football Club and payment of the debt.

But counsel for the creditors told the judge today “that sale has not happened and the debts have not been paid”.

Counsel said her instructions were to seek a final winding up order and that she had now been told that the notice of intention to appoint an administrator has been lodged.

As a result she also asked for an adjournment on Whites Hotel matter “to allow for administration”.

That matter was also adjourned to May 22.

If the move to wind-up either company up had succeeded today its affairs would effectively have been handed over to an Official Receiver.

His job would then have been to do his best to ensure that debts are paid off by selling any assets available and then bringing business to a close.

Liquidation is punishable by expulsion from the Football League and would have forced the club to relaunch under a new name.