The Bolton Wanderers squad, who the Blues travel to face on Saturday, are refusing to train for 48 hours after the club again failed to pay wages on time, while matchday staff are reportedly threatening to strike at the weekend.

According to BBC Radio Manchester, the players have taken the action in solidarity with off-field staff with salaries - both players and staff - not having been paid as scheduled for the second successive month, February's wages having been paid late.

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 is still to be completed.

Matchday staff are also reported to be threatening to strike on Saturday if their wages aren't paid before then, potentially putting the game in doubt.

I understand matchday staff at #bwfc also threatening to withdraw services for Saturday's game (which would put safety certificate under threat) if they are not paid. Situation going from serious to something altogether worse...

— Marc Iles (@MarcIles) April 1, 2019

Photo: Action Images

peteswindon added 17:25 - Apr 1 I bet if they don't turn up on Saturday we will still lose.
16

Northstandveteran added 17:26 - Apr 1 If the Bolton players refuse to turn up for the match I reckon we might get a draw at the very least.
10

Northstandveteran added 17:28 - Apr 1 Come on peteswindon! That's a very negative view 😂
6

beornioblue added 17:31 - Apr 1 hahaha we have literally just been discussing this at work, which exactly the same two comments being made .... all feeling positive then !!
2

blueboy1981 added 17:31 - Apr 1 Shambles - just a reminder to warktheline & Co that without Evans we could so easily be another Bolton. Don't take anything for granted, or lose respect for the fact that whatever one's opinion of Evans - in ten years of ownership that has not happened at ITFC, and won't under the current ownership.
11

Northstandveteran added 17:35 - Apr 1 5 points from safety opposed to 13 Blueboy? 😂
4

CavendishBlue added 17:36 - Apr 1 Couldn't happen to a nicer club.Will never forget the dirty northern barstewards in the play offs.
6

Marcus added 17:37 - Apr 1 If they don't turn up we might hold on for a draw, spend the game passing around midfield and might put a few shots wide. Quaner still isn't due a goal until 2021 so would need someone else to step up for that.
1

Churchman75 added 17:40 - Apr 1 As its a " 6 pointer" do we get six points??
10

andygizmo added 17:42 - Apr 1 0 0 draw
3

Northstander_Blue added 18:05 - Apr 1 #itfc's game at Bolton on Saturday potentially in doubt. Reports that matchday staff could strike. Club face winding up order over unpaid tax bill (again) on Weds: https://t.co/QR7SHTTPhR — Stuart Watson (@Stuart_Watson) April 1, 2019
0

Bert added 18:47 - Apr 1 If Bolton cannot fulfill the fixture for the reasons stated don't they forfeit the 3 points?
0

bluelodgeblue added 19:15 - Apr 1 I think if we played against Bolton's traffic cones we'd lose in the 90th minute! Such is the state of our squad and club ! Thanks a lot mr Evans!
7

Bergholtblue added 19:25 - Apr 1 Lot's of humour in the posts so far, but this is sad for any club, what a mess they are in! For those who want Evans to sell, just take stock for a minute. Yes, we could end up like Wolves, Leicester or Man City but just as easily we could be another Bolton, Blackpool, Birmingham or clubs will letters higher in the alphabet.
9

Saxonblue74 added 19:55 - Apr 1 Good to hear from some realistic town fans who understand what Evans ownership means to us. There is only one way to go without ME right now and that's the same way as Bolton.
8

bluemike1969 added 19:57 - Apr 1 Well done guys.... I am finally finding something to laugh about. Cheers NSV and petesswindon for cheering me up along with the traffic cones from BLB. Perhaps if Bolton don't show up then Chambo might be able to defend without giving the ball away or giving away a goal. Mind you, those traffic cones can be tricky b**gers and would probably go round him.
1

terry_butchers_twin added 19:58 - Apr 1 Nice picture of the Nat Lofthouse statue sculpted by a certain Sean Hedges-Quinn. Another masterpiece of a football legend....
0

Northstandveteran added 20:13 - Apr 1 I reckon the statue of Nat Lofthouse would go round him Bluemike
1

ArnieM added 22:54 - Apr 1 Bolton will no doubt walk away from this yet again . Football is in a rightold mess in this Country .
0

blueboy1981 added 22:57 - Apr 1 Gcon ......... showing his colours again, but most definitely NOT Blue & White, for all the hype pretending to be so.
0

Carberry added 23:52 - Apr 1 The owner's stewardship has him between a rock and a hard place. He's messed up big time, the club's value has plummeted so a sale is unlikely and now he has to reassess his investment and work out whether he wants to work out how to get the club promoted or simply continue to move the ownership around his companies for whatever reason. We don't really know what's going on do we?We have no idea what PR Paul is up to (vacancies at Celtic, QPR and maybe Scotland) or where the owner is heading. What we can be sure of is that the truth is in short supply as it has been for some time.

3

Cakeman added 06:58 - Apr 2 Sad times for a once great club.
4

BeattiesBackPocket added 09:20 - Apr 2 Here we go just because no one can name someone to take over doesn't mean Evans hasn't ballsed this club right up and fans can't criticise the guy or protest. We are going into division one the same as Bolton!! Wake up people. First time in how many years and under his stewardship. Don't tell fans or make out they're not dang because they don't agree with how Evans has run us into the ground. His management he picks the managers, directors like clegg etc Boone else

1

carlo88 added 09:33 - Apr 2 Just remember we're 8 points behind them, and look at the state they're in.
3

Bluearmy_81 added 10:30 - Apr 2 Evans apologists sicken me. We are in as sorry a state as Bolton, wake up!!
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