Bolton Wanderers v Ipswich Town game back on after 'critical IT failure'

Bolton are 23rd in the Championship, five points from safety

Bolton's Championship game with Ipswich on Saturday will go ahead after engineers fixed a "critical IT failure" at the University of Bolton stadium.

"The problems affecting the club's IT systems have now been rectified and the match will take place as planned," the club said early on Saturday.

It was the second time in a week that the game had been under threat.

Officials only lifted a ban on fans entering the ground after the club made safety assurances.

Before the IT problems - which the club had said engineers would "work through the night to resolve" - it was only confirmed on Thursday that Bolton's home games on Saturday and Tuesday would go ahead as scheduled.

That came after the Safety Advisory Group (SAG) issued a ban on fans entering the stadium for the matches against Ipswich and Middlesbrough over safety concerns.

There was a possibility they could have been played behind closed doors, before the region's SAG - made of up officials from the local council, emergency services and other agencies - was satisfied that adequate safety provision would be in place for both matches.

BBC Radio Manchester reported earlier on Friday that fans had found issues buying tickets and contacting the club.

The SAG had previously highlighted concerns over safety at the University of Bolton Stadium, with the game against Millwall on 9 March eventually given the green light three days before.

Bolton FC staff have been paid late over the past two months, with owner Ken Anderson looking to sell the club.

Ex-Watford owner Laurence Bassini has said he is "very close" to taking over at Bolton, who are 23rd in the Championship.

The club appeared in the High Court on Wednesday over an unpaid tax bill and Bassini was reported to be present.