WANDERERS’ administrators have underlined that the Football Ventures consortium are the only bidders to have met the “full criteria” needed to buy the club.

After revealing this morning that the club will head into liquidation unless the takeover is revived, Paul Appleton, speaking on behalf of David Rubin and Partners, has clarified his position in selecting FV as the club’s preferred bidder.

“Further to my previous statement and to clarify absolutely the position, Football Ventures (Whites) Limited (FVWL) are the only bidder to have satisfied the full criteria of the sale process and that remains the position,” a statement read.

“Despite persistent but false rumours in the media and on social media, FVWL are the only party to have met these criteria including, but not limited to, providing proof and source of funding and having satisfied the EFL's Owners and Directors' Test throughout the Administration, dating back to May 13. I hope this clarifies the current position.”

Administrators said this morning that the signature of former owner Ken Anderson was the only one missing on a deal which had been agreed to sell the club and hotel on Friday night.

A ‘commercial dispute’ between Anderson and the trust looking after the affairs of late owner Eddie Davies is known to be the cause of the deal collapsing on Saturday morning.

Anderson denies the claim – and has told The Bolton News that the so-called ‘missing signature’ was that of Keir Gordon, the solicitor acting on behalf of the Trust.

It is expected Anderson’s legal representatives will be making their own statement at some stage today.