BY DARREN JOHNSTONE @CCP_Sport
Neil Lennon admits he is praying that Bolton can avoid going into administration after the club failed to pay their players on time.
The squad did not receive November’s wages due to a ‘short-term funding issue’, with financial advisor Trevor Birch describing Bolton’s position as ‘increasingly perilous’.
Former Celtic manager Lennon has endured a torrid season on the park so far this term after seeing his team win one of their opening 18 matches.
Wanderers are already four points adrift of safety at the Championship basement and administration would trigger a disastrous 12-point penalty.
Current owner Eddie Davies is not prepared to invest any more money while the club is for sale and Lennon is hoping they can pull through.
Speaking to the Bolton News, he said: “I hope not – that’s the one thing (administration) we have to avoid, obviously.
“This isn’t ideal for me, or the players either but it’s the reality, it’s part of the whole process.
“This is an adverse time for the club but the players and the supporters are the strength of this club and they have got to show it. We win a couple of games and the whole psychology changes.
“If you’re asking when things will happen you’re asking the wrong man. I hear that there have been investors for some time now but at the minute they are not forthcoming with the money.
“I’ve said time and time again that all these things are out of my control.
“I can only try to keep the players hungry and challenging them all the time to try and improve the position they are in.
“That’s all I can do.”
