Bolton Wanderers’ High Court hearing relating to a £1.2 million unpaid tax bill and other debts was adjourned until May 8th this morning to allow the Trotters time to finalise a takeover deal.

Previously, on March 20th, Wanderers were given two weeks to settle their debts and avoid a winding-up order with a takeover then also said to be close.

They have now been given the additional five weeks for current owner Ken Anderson, who tried to broker the sale of Town back in 2007 at the time of the Marcus Evans takeover, to agree a deal, which is hoped could be completed in the next seven days, and for the club to settle its debts.

Former Watford chairman Laurence Bassini was at the hearing and appears to be the frontrunner to become the new owner, while another company, Gaspard Holdings Ltd, are also reported to be hopeful of completing a deal.

As yet, there is no news on how the latest adjournment might affect the uncertainty surrounding Saturday’s game between the Blues and Wanderers at the University of Bolton Stadium, which was yesterday cast into doubt when the Safety Advisory Group withdrew a safety certificate.

An EFL statement said the club had "confirmed it would be unable to commit to meet the obligations of its safety certificate until after a scheduled appearance at the High Court”.

Following the adjournment, it’s likely further discussions regarding Saturday’s game - and Bolton’s home match against Middlesbrough next Tuesday - will take place.

Bolton, for whom today's court appearance was their seventh relating to a winding-up petition in the last 17 months, are currently 23rd in the Championship, eight points ahead of the Blues.

As previously reported, Bolton's players refused to train for 48 hours earlier in the week, wages having been unpaid on Friday, the second month running when they weren't 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.

Town have sold more than 1,000 seats for the game with tickets reduced to £5 across the board.

Photo: Action Images

Carl2588 added 11:37 - Apr 3 Does this mean if the game doesn't go ahead it's played at a later date or do they forefit the game and we get the points cause we need them lol
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fistpumpfury added 11:44 - Apr 3 No amount of free points will help us now. Down we are, down.
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Pumpee1980 added 11:46 - Apr 3 Would be nice to know what is happening with the game going ahead or not..... I have a ticket, and also have a family so if its not going ahead there are other things I can be arranging to do!
5

coolcat added 11:53 - Apr 3 Same here pumpee1980.
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ArnieM added 11:57 - Apr 3 Shock , amazement they've worked out of it yet again! Oh well at least we can claim 3 points Sat now !
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IpswichT62OldBoy added 11:58 - Apr 3 I assume the safety issue was related to stewarding, no pay no work
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ArnieM added 12:00 - Apr 3 “Wormed” .... blooming predicted text gremlin at it again!! Sorry .
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warkyisgod added 13:19 - Apr 3 i'm with pumpee1980 got a ticket and just want to know if the game is going ahead or not, i do feel for all the back room staff and game day staff at Bolton that haven't been paid but also feel for our supporters who have bought train tickets hotels etc and we are still don't know what is happening.
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dirtydingusmagee added 14:07 - Apr 3 what a palaver !
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Edmundo added 14:11 - Apr 3 I remember years ago on one of the football shows someone said, it won't be until a big club goes to the wall that the football high and mighty take a really good look at themselves. It so nearly happened in the past with Leeds, Coventry etc, makes our situation in the early noughties look like a minor blip! I really feel for the supporters of these clubs, including ours, who know that realistically nowadays there is no return to the glory days. Sad that football has gone so elite purely due to money and "the global appeal of football". When will the madness stop?

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 14:35 - Apr 3 1000 + tickets sold by the bottom club for a relatively distant away game. Gives hope for the future. How many did Hull bring to PR last weekend? I think it was less than 500 for a club still with an offchance of a playoff place. If we can get something going next season on the pitch, the support should remain fairly strong.
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essextractorboy93 added 15:16 - Apr 3 Feel sorry for the Bolton fans in all of this, hopefully they there is light at the end of the tunnel. Would like to know what is going on in regards to Saturday's game! (if there is one and whether we are actually allowed to attend?) They need to let us know asap, people have got trains and hotels booked and an 8 hour round trip
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algarvefan added 15:46 - Apr 3 I think we can look at our current predicament and think we are lucky not to be in the same boat as Bolton. I really feel for their fans, players and staff, it must be very worrying times. Perhaps ME isn't so bad after all? Hope you all get your travel arrangements sorted soon, it's only a short trip to the computer and iFollow for me living abroad!!......Although I'd rather be there in person obviously.

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Bluearmy_81 added 17:31 - Apr 3 "Perhaps ME isn't so bad after all?" 11 years in the championship failing in his goal to take us up followed by... wait for it... our first excursion into the third tier in nearly 70 years!! No he's great!! (Said every Norwich fan ever!!) Priceless 😂
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