Bolton Wanderers saved after sale to Football Ventures is completed

Bolton have been saved from the threat of liquidation after their protracted takeover by Football Ventures (Whites) Limited went through yesterday but Bury, members of the Football League since 1894 and twice FA Cup winners, have been expelled from the EFL after a takeover bid to save the club failed.

The EFL announced that Sky Bet League One will run with 23 clubs this season with only three clubs relegated.

Bury have not been able to field a side for any of their League One games this season, and their scheduled first-round EFL Cup opponents Sheffield Wednesday received a bye.

The Shakers are the first club to be expelled since Maidstone went into liquidation in August 1992.

Bolton, who have put out extremely young sides for four league games and been deducted 12 points in League One but could not field a team for last week's scheduled game against Doncaster, had been given 14 days to secure their financial future.

The demise of Bury raised a number of questions concerning how certain League One betting markets are settled, particularly relegation, and firms have come up with a variety of responses.

Bet365 have voided Bury in every market other than relegation, in which bets on the Shakers have been settled as a winners.

RedZone are also settling Bury relegation wagers as winners.

However, in the case of Betfred, Coral, Sky Bet and Ladbrokes every ante-post wager on Bury has been voided.

The vast majority of firms are settling relegation bets according to EFL rules – meaning the bottom three teams rather than the bottom four, as was the case when the season started.

There is the possibility for a knock-on effect in League Two which will have one extra space to fill for the 2020-21 campaign.

One way of solving the problem would be to reduce the number of League Two relegation slots from two to one.

However, Betway have assured their customers that they will settle League Two relegation market on the basis of finishing position so bets on the bottom two teams will be winners, irrespective of whether the number of relegation berths is reduced.

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