Sam Allardyce has been approached by potential owners of Bolton to see if he wants to invest in the League One crisis club.
Though the former Wanderers boss refused to confirm whether one of these discussions took place recently, as Bolton face possible expulsion from the English Football League, he claimed to talkSPORT ‘many, many’ investors have previously approached him.
But Big Sam, who spent eight years in charge of Wanderers and guided them to their most successful spell of the modern era, refused to get involved as the proposed owners could not prove their plans for the club moving forward would bring stability back to the University of Bolton Stadium.
Sam Allardyce says Bolton should not have called off Doncaster game
“It’s been trying to be sold for many years now, and many, many people have approached me and said ‘would you be interested?’,” Allardyce told Tuesday’s Drivetime.
“But when asked for the plan moving forward and what would be invested into the football side of it, it’s never really been clear enough to me to say this football club will have a stable financial footing and will move forward, so I’ve never got involved with the people who have asked.
“I just hope these last people involved now, whether they can just keep it stable even if they’ve got no money to invest and take it forward, just to get it back into the League and start playing games and start working slowly from there.
“They’re almost certainly facing League Two next season, even if they survive [as a club].”
Bolton have 14 days to either be taken over or prove they have the funds for the remainder of the season, or they will be expelled from the EFL.
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The League’s decision to set a deadline of 11:59pm on September 12 came shortly after Bury had their membership revoked as they failed to complete a takeover before 5pm on Tuesday.
It was hoped that C&N Sporting Risk, a sports analytics company, would buy the Shakers, but the London-based firm pulled out the deal only 90 minutes before the EFL deadline.
Bury, who were formed in 1885 and have been Football League members for 125 years, are almost certain to now be liquidated.
Bolton could go the same way, though Allardyce remains positive over his former club’s future.
“I am optimistic [that the club will be rescued],” he added. “I just hope the people involved in the club – the administrators and everybody else – think about the players and the football club itself rather than what appears to be revolving around the money side of it.
“I just hope that is all cleared up and somebody with a bit of spirit, drive and character comes in and helps rebuild Wanderers.
“It will be great if that happens.”
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