New League Championship side Bolton Chair Dean Holdsworth "has earmarked Phil Brown as Bolton’s next manager should his takeover be completed" -- but "not until the summer," according to Jack Gaughan of the London DAILY MAIL. Holdsworth, the prospective new owner, and his Sports Shield consortium "were very optimistic that a deal would be ratified by the Football League this week before Monday’s date at the High Court." There is still "a race against time to seal a League stamp of approval" and Bolton could face "being liquidated next week should a decision not be made and their position allowed to linger." Holdsworth’s plans for the Trotters -- covering both Championship and League One eventualities next year -- "have left officials with questions they still want answering." The two parties were "locked in talks on Wednesday," with the plan to reimburse Eddie Davies with TV money on potential promotion -- revealed on Monday -- "one topic under discussion." Yet there is "still a confidence in the Sports Shield camp" that its move will be "given the go-ahead" after Davies agreed to sell for £1 ($1.41) after Holdsworth's promise of £7.5M ($10.6M) to keep the club afloat in months to come. Holdsworth has "already taken steps as to how he wants to revamp the second-tier strugglers." The former striker will be a hands-on chair and identified Brown, currently manager of League One side Southend United, "as the man to lead them forward long-term." It is understood that Brown "wants to see out the season at Roots Hall, with Neil Lennon likely to retain his job until then" (DAILY MAIL, 3/2).
