PROVIDED all goes according to plan, Wanderers’ players, manager and coaching staff should end a 14-day wait for their November salary tomorrow.

Finances were thrust into the spotlight a fortnight ago when all employees were informed they may not receive their pay. A tale of missed deadlines, union intervention and last-minutes hitches unfolded from there, which have thrown the club’s struggles in the Championship completely into the shade.

It was late in the evening on November 29 that a small selection of senior players were informed by Phil Parkinson hat their wage – due in accounts the next day – would not be paid.

Non-playing staff were also told in an email on behalf of Ken Anderson that there had been a problem with pay.

"For those who do not receive their salary first thing tomorrow morning, some further payments will be made during the day and any staff not paid by the end of tomorrow will receive their salary first thing Monday morning," read an email issued to all heads of department.

"Sincerest apologies for the inconvenience this will cause, but the company is working hard to rectify the situation in the quickest possible timeframe."

Some part-time and weekend staff were not affected but those who did not receive pay found out the next day in a further email from Anderson that he was “personally funding” the transaction, which would be in accounts by the close of business.

The following day Parkinson informed the whole squad of the situation, face-to-face, at the training ground.

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Concern over the financial situation at Wanderers prompted a statement from the Bolton Wanderers Supporters Trust.

“It is with a mixture of feelings of deja-vu, dismay, worry and anger that, after hearing yesterday of the latest incidence of potential delays in payment of staff and players wages, the BWFCST Board implore you to redouble your efforts to find a new owner for our club,” it read.

Parkinson took his weekly press conference, assuring fans that Anderson was “working to resolve the situation” and at the same time, players sought answers directly from the chairman in a phone conversation at the training ground. A promise was made that funds would be in accounts by Thursday, December 6.

Wanderers’ players fought out a 1-1 draw against the Latics, fans’ ire turning towards the match referee and two controversial penalty incidents.

“After the week we’ve had, we’ll take the point,” reflected a proud Parkinson.

“When you go to work on Monday morning and haven’t been paid then think to yourself ‘what would I be feeling like?’ I’d be pretty demotivated. But the lads put it to one side and I am very pleased we put in that performance, even though it was only a point.”

Players and staff did report back for training on Monday morning and fulfilled community appearances throughout the week.

It also emerged that coaching staff had not been paid a bonus owed from the end of last season for keeping Wanderers in the Championship.

The Bolton News asked for answers from Anderson on the short-term financial security of the club and why such financial issues had materialised without warning. A lengthy response was issued by the owner, who alongside taking issue with some of the reports from local and national media, also threatened to withdraw his funding from the club.

Parkinson took his pre-Norwich press conference on the day of the deadline – but there was no sign of payment as he answered yet more questions from the media.

“The chairman is working to resolve the situation today,” he said. “I think there will be a positive resolution. I had a brief chat with the lads this morning to explain the situation but I have touched base with Ken and he is looking to sort it.”

We have learned an offer was made by Anderson to defer wages but players opted to seek the assistance of the Professional Footballer’s Association.

Talks continued over the weekend which also saw Parkinson’s side produce another gutsy performance at Carrow Road, albeit one that ended in a narrow 3-2 defeat.

Players union boss Gordon Taylor had taken a lead role in the negotiations, and an offer to subsidise the wages looked to have given some temporary respite. But as the paperwork was being processed the discovery of a winding-up petition against Wanderers from an American marketing firm meant they had to withdraw the offer.

That information would only come to light later in the week – but with time ticking down on to Friday, when players could theoretically serve a 14-day notice on the club, the need for action was acute.

Former Wanderers captain and assistant manager, Phil Brown, summed up the mood of concern in an interview on BBC Radio Manchester.

"It’s a dire situation when the working man, and in this case footballers, and the incumbent can’t afford to pay them. It really is a dire situation and it needs addressing,” he said. “I know a lot of clubs these days have got single-man owners and single-man boards, and they are run like that, and they are guarded by it as well.

“If you can’t afford to run it you need to move on and possibly even sell the club.

“It doesn’t matter where you lie in the ladder, whether you are a young player, an older player or whatever.

"At the end of the day you sign a contract and you believe that contract will be honoured."

Yesterday morning, the news that fans, players and coaching staff had waited to hear finally arrived. Club owner Anderson pledged to “personally fund” the November wages – thus avoiding any potential contractual decisions.

Anderson claims he has dealt with the debt owned to Front Row Marketing and expects the winder to disappear once the court date is due.

The club’s statement also says the option to obtain funding from the PFA is still available, albeit not the “preferred route”.

Wanderers fans, players and staff alike will hope that option is not on the table for Anderson's consideration at the end of this month, when the next salary run is due.