Bolton facing winding up order as Lennon battles for safety
Two consortiums are believed to be holding talks about taking over the club with the clock ticking down on a tax demand for £300,000.
If the club is unable to agree a takeover they will be forced into administration incurring a 12 point penalty that will make avoiding relegation a thankless task. It’s understood that £15m is needed to see the club through to the end of the season.
Neil Lennon has the task of trying to get the club out of trouble on the pitch while the future of the club is in the hands of Trevor Birch from BDO who has experienced working at Hearts and Portsmouth in similar situations.
Long term benefactor Eddie Davies is the main creditor and is believed to be prepared to write off up-to £180m of debt if he believes the right people are prepared to take the club on.
Sports Shield Investments, led by Dean Holdsworth and a consortium from Thailand have expressed an interest in the club since it was announced that the players weren’t paid their November wages.
Despite having only won one match this season Bolton are only four points away from fourth bottom place.
Lennon has had his hands tied in a division where clubs are battling for a £100m place in next season’s Premier League.
“First and foremost you have to safeguard the future of the club – whether or not I’m here to see that through or not is another matter,” Lennon said divorcing himself from Bolton’s off field problems.
“I can only concentrate on the team. I am stood here really disappointed. There is no excuse. You can see in the way that they are playing it is not affecting them. That is conjecture more than anything else.”