Town’s 5-0 victory at Bolton Wanderers on Saturday could prove to be the Trotters’ last ever game with their takeover deal having collapsed on the morning of the match and the club appearing in real danger of being liquidated on Wednesday.
The takeover by Football Ventures was close to being completed on Friday but with no news the EFL issued a statement on Saturday evening outlining its concerns regarding the delay in the completion of the deal and giving all parties until 5pm on Tuesday to conclude the sale or put "credible plans in place for the club to continue the season in administration”.
A statement this morning from joint-administrator Paul Appleton says that as things stand the deal has broken down and the club is currently in no position to continue: "At 5pm on Friday 23rd August, the completion of the sale of the football club and the hotel had been agreed by all parties and undertakings had been issued by all solicitors except those of Ken Anderson.
"Devastatingly, on Saturday morning that deal collapsed. At this stage, there seems little point in apportioning blame because that makes no difference to the staff, players, management, supporters and the community who have once more seen their club taken back to the brink.
"My team have spent the last 48 hours working around the clock, striving to get a deal back on track and trying to convince the parties still in conflict that the very fate of Bolton Wanderers depends on them finding a compromise.
"The EFL have made their position clear by insisting on a 5pm deadline on Tuesday for a deal to be completed or give compelling reasons for an extension. They have also written to everybody concerned in the process to underline that sense of urgency.
"On Sunday evening, there was some tentative dialogue but we are still some way from reaching a solution. Therefore, I am appealing to those parties whose position seems intractable to do everything to reach a compromise.
"In just over 24 hours, the club will have its membership of the EFL revoked. Over and above that, the club is currently not in a position to carry on trading and, as such, the process of closing down the company will commence on Wednesday.
"This will ultimately lead to its liquidation, the expulsion of the club from the EFL and the inevitable loss of over 150 jobs. More than that, it will devastate a community for whom the football club is a beacon of hope and expectation.
"I reiterate, unless there is a change of position from any of the parties involved, the process of closing down the club and ultimately placing Bolton Wanderers into liquidation will begin this week.”
If that were to happen, Bolton’s results for the season would be expunged and the Blues’ 5-0 goal victory at the weekend would count for nothing with the division continuing with 23 teams, 22 if Bury were to succumb to their own financial problems.
As things stand Town would drop to seventh but with a game in hand over everyone above them bar Coventry.
The Shakers also have to meet a Tuesday deadline as they seek to complete a last-ditch takeover.