WANDERERS have taken a major step closer to a takeover after agreeing a Heads of Terms agreement with their preferred bidder.

It is understood that the Football Ventures consortium are in line to meet administrators’ deadline of early next week to complete a sale.

Paul Appleton of administrators David Rubin and Partners said: “For legal reasons, I cannot name the preferred bidder until Monday. But I realise how important it is that Bolton fans are given confidence we are now a major step closer to the sale of the club and securing its future.

“This has not always been a straightforward process owing mainly to the need to condense what would normally be a four to five month timeframe into closer to seven weeks.

“But there has been a willingness on all sides to work tirelessly to ensure the survival of the club and, in particular, I’d like to thank the Eddie Davies Trust who have shown a deep and true understanding of what Bolton Wanderers means to the fans and the wider community.

“Again, I’d like to reiterate my regret at not always being able to keep the supporters completely up to speed with the progress of the deal but the important thing is the club is now a further step forward to being saved. Now begins the rebuilding process.

"With the Heads of Terms having been signed, we move towards a Sale and Purchase Agreement and completion of the transaction at the earliest possible stage.

“This club has suffered greatly but I would like to pay tribute to all the staff who, under the most dire of circumstances, have shown their loyalty and devotion to Bolton Wanderers. The deserve days like this after all they have been through.

“The next step is a completion of the deal and the start of a new era for the club. There will be a further update in due course."