Bolton Wanderers: Food bank steps into feed unpaid staff

Fans of Bolton Wanderers have said it's "heartbreaking" to have to donate food and supplies to staff who haven't been paid by the club.

The club fell into administration on Monday and a food bank has now switched its focus to helping the employees who are struggling financially.

On Saturday fans queued to donate food, drinks, toiletries and other essentials and were helped by staff from local supermarkets who also added to the collections.

It happened to be FA Cup final day - a competition Bolton have won four times previously.

Lifelong fan Rachel told Sky News: "This is just heartbreaking - watching a team you have loved and supported for so long. I'm just glad me Dad isn't here to see it."

Food bank organiser Jake Kirkman told Sky News he'd been overwhelmed by the "exceptional" support they have received from the people of Bolton and fans of clubs across the north of England.

He said: "These donations are going to people who work in administration, they are going to match day people who work in tickets or the media people - these are working people.

"There is a real need and we will do what we can."

Behind the scenes other clubs are understood to have made private donations while administrators try to find new ownership for the club.

Chief football writer at the Bolton News, Marc Iles, told Sky News: "Preston donated £2,000 of shopping vouchers, I hear a club in the Midlands offered a substantial sum, and the backing we have seen from Liverpool, Everton, Leeds, Wigan, Huddersfield and Blackpool for the food bank collection has been so heart-warming.

"We're seeing the very worst of modern football hardship here but also the most gratifying response from people who recognise this not as a simple football issue, but more a human one."

After relegation from the Championship, Bolton Wanderers will start life in League One next season with a 12 point deduction after going into administration.