CASH-STRAPPED Bolton Wanderers told their staff yesterday that the club can’t afford to pay January wages on time.

Workers at the Championship side were due to be paid today but were each handed a slip of paper yesterday telling them there wasn’t enough cash.

Bolton said that “due to the ongoing uncertainty” about the club’s finances, “it has been unable to confirm to its staff today that they will receive their wages.”

Staff were paid in December, although reportedly the money didn’t come from owner Eddie Davies, who has pulled his financial support and wants rid of the club.

However, manager Neil Lennon’s players did not receive their November wages and only the sale of offices at Burnden Way, combined with a contribution from the Professional Footballers’ Association, meant they were paid last month.

Bolton hope to sell one of their car parks, and the money raised would be enough to pay both staff and players.

The club appeared at the High Court at the start of the week over an unpaid £2.2 million tax bill, but were granted five weeks to pull together enough cash to pay off HM Revenue and Customs before the agency can try to have them wound up.

“Every effort continues to be made by the board of directors and its advisers to pay staff and also resolve the longer-term funding issue during what remains a difficult and challenging time for the football club,” Bolton said.

Financial adviser Trevor Birch is negotiating with four potential buyers but meanwhile everything is up for sale, including the club’s assets and players.

The sale of Mark Davies and Zach Clough to Sheffield Wednesday and Bristol City respectively would have raised more than £2m but they both fell through last week.

Bolton may even be forced to loan out players just to get them off the wage bill.

The side have already revealed they cannot afford to pay ex-Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi after his short-term deal expires at the weekend.

As well as the car park, it is believed Birch is talking to nearby clubs Preston and Wigan about selling Bolton’s Euxton training ground.