Town’s game at Bolton Wanderers on Saturday and the Trotters’ subsequent home fixture with Middlesbrough next Tuesday are in doubt after the Safety Advisory Group (SAG), who are responsible for issuing the general safety certificate at the University of Bolton Stadium, said the club cannot "demonstrate that the stadium can deliver the matchday operation to the standard required".
An EFL statement reads: "The EFL has today been informed that the Safety Advisory Group (SAG), responsible for issuing the general safety certificate at Bolton Wanderers, has placed a prohibition notice on the club under the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975.
"As a result, all supporters will be prevented from entering the University of Bolton Stadium until the club can demonstrate that the stadium can deliver the matchday operation to the standard required.
"Prior to the meeting, called by the SAG, the club confirmed it would be unable to commit to meet the obligations of its safety certificate until after a scheduled appearance at the High Court tomorrow (3rd April).
"SAG members concluded this would be a challenging timeframe to put an adequate plan in place to protect the safety of fans during upcoming home fixtures against Ipswich Town on Saturday 6th April and Middlesbrough on Tuesday 9th April.
"The EFL is currently engaged with the club in regard to how they intend to meet their fixture obligations.
"SAG is a multi-agency panel which includes Bolton Council, Greater Manchester Police, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, North West Ambulance Service and St John Ambulance.”
An EFL spokesman said: "Whilst disappointed, the EFL understands the rationale for the position taken by the SAG at this time.
"However, we still hope the fixtures will take place as planned. We will work with the club and offer them any practical assistance that is available to us in an attempt to find a successful and timely resolution to the issue.”
If not, Saturday's game and the Middlesbrough fixture would almost certainly be postponed. We understand it's very unlikely that matches would be staged at an empty stadium.
Town have sold more than 1,000 seats for the game with tickets reduced to £5 across the board.
As reported yesterday, Bolton's players are refusing to train for 48 hours wages having been unpaid on Friday, the second month running when they haven't been paid on time. March's salaries - both players and off-field staff - remain unpaid and matchday staff are reported to have threatened to strike at Saturday’s game.
#itfc's game against Bolton Wanderers at the weekend is in doubt after they were denied a safety certificate for the stadium to host the match.
We will update supporters in due course once we have clarification from the EFL.– Ipswich Town FC (@IpswichTown) April 2, 2019
On March 20th, Wanderers, 23rd in the Championship, eight points ahead of the Blues, were given two weeks to settle their debts and avoid a winding-up order relating to a tax bill of £1.2 million at the High Court with the hearing adjourned until April 3rd, this Wednesday.
A takeover plan had collapsed prior to the hearing where owner Ken Anderson revealed a new prospective buyer - former Watford owner Laurence Bassini - had emerged.
Speaking last Wednesday Anderson said the deal could go through "within 48 hours" and that the new owners would pay the March salaries on Friday. However, the deal wasn't completed within that period.
Now a new company, Gaspard Holdings Ltd, has announced it is on the verge of taking control of the club.
Anderson, who tried to broker a deal for the sale of Town back in 2007 at the time of the Marcus Evans takeover, has issued a lengthy statement on the current situation and criticising the players for their 'strike' on the official Wanderers website.