Bolton crisis: Neil Lennon and coaching team chip in to support club's staff

Bolton's coaching team have provided financial support to help out some of the staff that were not paid their January wages this week.

Wanderers face another critical day in their immediate future on Friday when they will have a validation order heard that they hope will pave the way for a car park sale at the Macron Stadium.

Press Association Sport understands the Sky Bet Championship club needs to purchase a small chunk of land before selling that as part of a proposed bigger deal along with the car park to The Emerson Group, who own the Middlebrook Retail Park which is adjacent to the ground.

Bolton's accounts are frozen because they were served a winding-up petition by HM Revenue and Customs over an unpaid tax bill of £2.2million, but they are hoping to convince the hearing that an immediate purchase will be beneficial to their long-term survival.

Should that be granted, it could lead to non-playing staff receiving their wages after the club confirmed earlier this week that they could not pay out this month's salaries.

However, Lennon and his coaching team have dug into their own pockets to aid some of those affected.

"I've got staff - part of my football staff and backroom staff - that are struggling to make ends meet at the minute," Lennon revealed.

"That's not a great scenario. Some of us have had a whip round for a few of them just to keep them on board.

"Hopefully when the car park sale goes through we can get a takeover done eventually and things can move on from here."

Lennon added of the staff: "They've been here quite a while and they absolutely love the club.

"If anyone deserves to be paid it's probably these people for what they give to the club.

"It's very, very difficult but I do think there will be a solution to it and I do think we will get permission today to get the car-park sale to go through and people will get paid."

PA.