WANDERERS today fended off a winding up petition brought against them by the tax man at London’s High Court.

After a judge was dramatically told that a buyer had been found he adjourned the case until April 3

The company’s lawyer revealed that owner Ken Anderson, who controls 94.5 per cent of the company shares, “is imminently going to conclude a sale of his interests in the shares”.

Judge Clive Jones, sitting at the Insolvency and Companies Court in at the High Court commented: “I have seen there were problems in the news.”

HM Revenue & Customs issued a winding up petition in February against The Bolton Wanderers Football Club & Athletic Company Ltd.

At the High Court hearing this morning, the tax authority asked for a compulsory winding up order saying there had been “no communication and no payment”.

HMRC’s barrister added that there were also five supporting creditors who were owed money.

The football club company’s lawyer said terms had been signed and she had a written statement from solicitors who had been instructed to deal with the share sale which was only drawn up last night.

“The buyer is somebody who already has a major stake in a high level football club. Mr Ken Anderson has instructed to draft a share agreement but needs two weeks,” said counsel.

“The statement says the buyer needs to capitalise the receipts. That includes funds to pay the petition debt and any other debts which fall due.”

Legal representatives of two of the supporting creditors told the judge what they were owed.

Macron, sports kit manufacturers, said its debt amounted to £194,753. West Church Homes Ltd said it was owed £15,940.

HMRC said it did not know “anything about” what had just been announced in court.

The judge, adjourning the application until April 3, said: “If there’s to be payment in full then you will have time. I will clearly give you 14 days for that.”

Earlier this week it was reported that Bolton Wanderers’ talks with the Football Ventures consortium headed by Parminder Basran and Sharon Brittan to buy the club had mutually ended.

Wanderers have faced previous winding up petitions which could leave it facing the threat of going into administration.

For example, in March 2016 the club escaped being wound up after paying a £2.2m tax debt in full.

More recently, Bolton’s players were paid their February salary late, there was doubt over a recent game with Millwall going ahead due to concerns over being able to pay stewarding costs, and League Two Forest Green have started legal proceedings over the failed transfer of Christian Doidge.

If the club had been wound up, its affairs would effectively have been handed over to an Official Receiver.

His job would then have been to do his best to ensure that debts are paid off by selling any assets available and then bringing business to a close.