Bolton, who have been in administration since May and began the season with a 12-point deduction due to financial difficulties, were due to be bought by the Football Ventures consortium.

The Trotters pulled the plug on their fixture at just 24 hours' notice due to welfare concerns for their young squad, who have been thrust into senior action amid the off-field problems at the club.

Bolton Wanderers will officially begin liquidation this week after a deal to sell the football club dramatically collapsed, leaving the former Premier League side in a perilous position.

There was a time in the not-so-distant past when Bolton Wanderers offered sublime evidence that every modest town had the right to a seat at football's top table.

Bury Football Club's slide into liquidation was a 'slow-moving train' wreck which was allowed to happen by the English Football League, says Accrington Stanley's outspoken chairman.

Bolton defender Joe Bunney was admitted to hospital with a broken collarbone and broken ribs after a road traffic accident.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY CHRIS WHEELER: Wanderers had been saved but another battle was beginning. They had started the season with a 12-point deduction and just six senior players.

Usain Bolt didn't seem too bothered by his shock defeat in Rome on Friday night as he was spotted enjoying the French Open men's singles final on Sunday between Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer.

Justin Gatlin remained unbeaten this season by winning the 100 metres at the Golden Spike meet on Tuesday, clocking 9.86 seconds to improve his own world-leading time of the year.

Research undertaken at the University of Oslo shows that dope cheats such as Justin Gatlin could still be benefiting from taking banned substances years after initial usage.

Sebastian Coe has questioned the nomination of former drugs cheat Justin Gatlin as one of the IAAF's athletes of the year after the new research in to long-lasting effects of steroids.

Justin Gatlin sent a message to Usain Bolt on Friday - both with his legs and his mouth. Gatlin lived up to the pre-season hype by winning the 100m in a world-leading 9.74 seconds in Doha.

Sprinter Justin Gatlin ran into a new row on Tuesday when he flew home on the eve of the Beijing World Challenge, claiming organisers told him they did not want him competing.

Organisers of the Beijing World Challenge have denied that they kicked out Justin Gatlin from their meeting and said they were 'perplexed' by the controversial sprinter's claim.

Usain Bolt has rubbished reports that he is afraid to face Justin Gatlin. Bolt has had an injury-ravaged season and the pair are yet to meet in 2015 but Bolt is gunning for Gatlin at World Championships

Controversial Justin Gatlin set the stage for a world championship showdown with Usain Bolt when he won the 200 metres in a blazing 19.57 seconds at the U.S. trials in Oregon on Sunday

The credibility of Alberto Salazar’s defence against doping allegations has been further undermined by an interview he gave about a controversial incident involving Justin Gatlin in 2006.

Justin Gatlin could win world championships and go undefeated for a second consecutive season but he would still not be ineligible for the sport's athlete of the year award.

Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin set up the sequel to their world championship sprint showdown on Wednesday, both winning their semifinal heats in the 200 metres.

Justin Gatlin hopes the public will see him as a 'human being' rather than a drugs cheat after the World Championships. Gatlin finished second in the 100m and 200m in Beijing.

CHARLES SALE: Lord Coe’s unparalleled reputation as Britain’s leading sporting statesman is in danger of being tainted by his continued links with Nike.

Justin Gatlin is the 100m Diamond League champion after taking a closely-fought victory in Brussels at the final Diamond League meeting of the year.

Losing is one thing. Justin Gatlin didn't expect he'd get booed at the Olympic 100-metre final, too. He took silver for the United States, in Rio on Sunday, edged by rival Usain Bolt of Jamaica.

The parents of controversial US sprinter Justin Gatlin have rushed to his defense as the weight of being public enemy number one in the Olympic arena took its toll on him.

The Jamaican was forced to settle for third in his final solo race at the London Stadium on Saturday after being beaten by the USA's Christian Coleman, who claimed silver, and Justin Gatlin, who won the gold.

Justin Gatlin was again cast as the pantomime villain by the crowd at the London Stadium on Sunday as he collected his 100m gold medal after beating Usain Bolt to re-gain his world title.

Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has taken to Instagram to show off how he is keeping his reflexes sharp during the football shutdown.  

Chelsea have reportedly made the first move in the race to sign Philippe Coutinho this summer. The attacking midfielder joined Barcelona from Liverpool in a deal worth £145m two years ago.

29-year-old winger Costa featured under Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich during his spell in Bavaria, but has largely fallen out of favour in Turin this season.

Few players are heading into the summer with their future as uncertain as Barcelona's Philippe Coutinho. With that in mind, Sportsmail assesses his potential landing spots - and where he suits best.

'Outrageous' transfer fees will become a thing of the past after the coronavirus pandemic, Bayern Munich president Herbert Hainer believes.

Boateng's relationship with Bayern has soured after he was fined by the club for breaking coronavirus guidelines regarding essential travel, while he is about to enter the last 12 months of his contract.

Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are both said to be interested in Antonio Rudiger. Rudiger has reportedly opened contract talks with Chelsea but has been linked with a move away.

The Frenchman has fallen down the pecking order this season under Hansi Flick, having started just seven games under the new manager at the Allianz Arena.

After failing to break into Zinedine Zidane's starting XI this season, Rodriguez looks set to have two options this summer in the Premier League, with Manchester United and Everton interested.

Bayern Munich's pursuit of Leroy Sane has been dealt a serious blow due to the coronavirus crisis, according to reports. The Bundesliga champions are long-term admirers of the Manchester City winger.

Kai Havertz is one of Europe's most exciting young players and is sought-after by clubs across Europe including Premier League giants Liverpool and Manchester United.

The Moroccan international has developed into one of the most coveted full-backs in Europe after an impressive two-year loan stint at Borussia Dortmund from Real Madrid.

The German goalkeeper's contract at the Allianz Arena expires next summer and Neuer is looking to sign a new deal with the club he joined back in 2011 from Schalke.

Bayern Munich have been given a major boost in their pursuit of Leroy Sane following comments from his new agent that they have the 'prerequisites to win the Champions League'.

Everton are reportedlyinterested in signing Torino's Andrea Belotti this summer, with Manchester United and Napoli also pursuing the striker. 

Frank Lampard inherited the £72million Kepa upon his arrival at Chelsea last summer, but a series of high-profile errors have seen the Spanish stopper come under serious scrutiny.

The highly-rated French centre-back has a £52m buyout clause at Leipzig, who are keen to sell him this year as opposed to losing him for free upon the expiration of his contract next summer.

Clubs in the German top flight have returned to training in the hope that the rest of the season can be finished off - providing Chancellor Angela Merkel gives the green light for action to resume.

Jurgen Klopp has been told Ferran Torres would be a 'perfect fit' if Liverpool make a summer move for the Valencia starlet. The 20-year-old winger has been linked with Barcelona Bayern and Dortmund.

With a permanent deal to Bayern currently unlikely, he Brazilian has been linked with a return to the Premier League and a move to Chelsea but Barcelona will not sell for less than £87m (€100m).

Inter Milan boss Antonio Conte is set for another crack at signing David Alaba this summer after failing to land the Bayern Munich star while managing Chelsea in the Premier League.  

James Carville, who advised President Bill Clinton, told Bernie Sanders to stop 'lollgagging around' after the Vermont senator failed to carry key primary states on Super Tuesday.

Billionaire Bloomberg had just 44 delegates after blowing through as much as $1 billion - while Warren even came third in her own state. Now Biden and Sanders both want a head-to-head race

Bernie Sanders released a new TV ad Wednesday featuring a 'narration' from Barack Obama after Joe Biden's Super Tuesday sweep put the pressure on the Vermont senator's campaign.