Bolton Wanderers' clash with Millwall this weekend is under threat as the financial crisis at the Championship club continues.
As reported by Sportsmail, the Lancashire outfit's training ground was closed thanks to a lack of food, drink and equipment with an ongoing takeover still to be completed - although it has subsequently reopened. Staff at Bolton are still without last month's wages, which were due to have been paid last week.
And in another, sorry development, the town's council have now given the club 24 hours to persuade them that they can meet safety requirements for Saturday's fixture at the University of Bolton Stadium or else it will be called off.
Fears have been raised that a lack of funds would impact on the club's ability to safely put the fixture on. Town hall officials met police, fire and ambulance service staff on Tuesday in an emergency summit and were not satisfied that the club could meet the required legal standards.
As a result, they have given Bolton until 1pm on Wednesday to 'provide adequate reassurances'. Should that not be the case, the council says it will have no option other than to issue a prohibition notice.
Bolton were unavailable for comment.
Controversial chairman Ken Anderson, who paid himself £525,000 in fees in his first year at the helm, had said that terms in principle had been agreed for a takeover last week but that is yet to take place.
Desperate staff, with bills to pay, have been given smaller payments to allow them to put petrol in their cars and buy food.
A spokesman for Bolton Council said: 'The club has recently been unable to demonstrate it can meet the legal conditions of the ground's safety certificate.
'After consultation with all members of the SAG, the council has taken the decision to give the club 24 hours to address all safety concerns, otherwise we will reluctantly issue a prohibition notice.
'We understand some fans may be alarmed by this news, but the council is bound by legal process and we are not prepared to risk public safety by allowing any event to go ahead without proper resources in place.
'The club has the full support of the council and all the SAG agencies, and we are hopeful a resolution will be found.'
Under the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975, local authorities may issue a prohibition notice if they believe a sports ground does not have sufficient measures in place to prevent the serious risk of harm to spectators.