BOTH Bury and Bolton Wanderers have been given until 5pm today to give the EFL reassurances about their respective futures – or their opening day games could be off.

Paul Wilkinson’s Shakers are at MK Dons while the Whites are due to travel to Wycombe Wanderers as the League One season gets under way on Saturday.

Both clubs have endured torrid summers and are set to start the season on minus 12 points with only a handful on contracted players on their books.

Bury owner Steve Dale has agreed a Company Voluntary Agreeement to reduce debts, but needs to prove he can continue to run the club or has a buyer lined up. 

Now the EFL want to see evidence that the clubs “can meet all outstanding commitments” by the end of business on Monday, Bury having initially been given until noon.

The league want action now with the clock ticking to the start of the 2019/20 season.

“Following extensive discussions with the Administrators of Bolton Wanderers, the ownership at Bury and the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) over the course of the weekend some progress has been achieved in regard to the respective challenges they currently face,” Wanderers statement read.

“However, concerns do remain and both clubs are required to provide confirmation to the league’s satisfaction that they can meet all outstanding commitments.

“To give both clubs the maximum opportunity to comply with the request, a deadline of 5pm on Monday, July 29 has been set for them to provide the EFL with the necessary evidence.

“The 5pm cut-off point replaces the noon deadline issued to Bury, which was confirmed on Friday evening.

“If the information is not received, the EFL Board is likely to suspend the opening day fixtures against Wycombe Wanderers (Bolton Wanderers) and MK Dons (Bury) under the provision of EFL Regulation 28.2.

“The EFL will continue to offer its full assistance and support to both clubs in order to achieve the objective of securing long-term futures for them but with the season now a matter of days away there is no other option but for all outstanding matters to be brought to a conclusion.”