Bolton Wanderers face points deduction after entering administration

Bolton Wanderers finished 23rd in the Championship last season - (C) Bolton Wanderers

Following Bolton Wanderers entering administration this week, the Trotters will also now be deducted 12 points for the upcoming 2019-2020 season.

Following relegation to League One, the northern side had been given a maximum of two weeks to appoint administrators.

This came after a High Court hearing last Wednesday ruled this due to an unpaid £1.2 million tax bill. Both Paul Appleton and Asher Miller of David Rubin and Partners have been placed as Bolton’s joint administrators going into next season’s campaign.

Bolton’s former owner Ken Anderson had hoped that a takeover deal from former Watford owner Laurence Bassini would stop the club from entering administration, however, he failed to provide proof of funding to the English Football League.

The media administrator Paul Appleton of David Rubin & Partners, said:

“This has obviously been a long-running situation and it is vitally important that we quickly establish the position of both the football club and the holding company.

“It has got to the stage where the Trust could not sit back and allow the club to go into liquidation. Decisive action had to be taken and the Trust believes the decision is in the best interests of Bolton Wanderers.

“Everybody at the club as well as the supporters need a sense of clarity and that is what I will be seeking to provide as quickly as possible.”

The EFL announced in a statement that the soon to be League One side will be docked 12 points from the start of next season as part of the process of entering administration. The EFL also add that they will “now commence discussions with the Administrators with the aim of achieving a long-term future for the club.”

Wanderers finished 23rd in the Championship with 32 points, one ahead of Ipswich Town during the 2018-2019 campaign.