BOLTON chairman Phil Gartside has stoked up the heat for next week’s home game against relegation-threatened Leeds by criticising the handling of the Elland Road club’s finances.

Gartside filled the gap left by former Chelsea chief Ken Bates as someone prepared to address controversial matters, by claiming that clubs who write off debt are bringing the game into disrepute.

It is a position he feels keenly, both as an accountant and chairman of a club that is continuing to fight a tough battle against debt.

Bolton owes a figure approaching £40m, much of which is derived from the cost of building the Reebok stadium, which they have had to finance themselves.

But it is a debt they have under control, to the extent that Gartside said earlier this week that there may be limited transfer funds available to manager Sam Allardyce this summer.

Bolton are regarded as a model club in the Premiership for the way they conduct their affairs, and feel it is unfair that clubs can write off debt by going into administration while others are paying their way.

The fact that Gartside has gone public with his opinion will come as no surprise to Leeds, as he has voiced it in soccer’s corridors of power.

The Premier League have instigated a new rule under which any club going into administration will be deducted nine points. That starts next season so it will not affect Leeds, but is seen as a major deterrent to any clubs considering administration.

The debt which has brought Leeds to their knees has been reported at £80m, while Leicester - who have also attracted adverse Gartside comment - and Ipswich have also written off debts.

Unfair

Gartside said: I know it’s not illegal but, at the end of the day, it’s made it an unfair competition. You can’t just write your debts off and carry on. It’s bringing the game into disrepute.

“The Leeds debt is a hell of a lot of money. The plc has gone into administration while the football club carries on. I think it’s unfair what Leicester did and it’s unfair what Leeds have done.

“I’m not saying this against the current board or the current owners of the clubs. I’m merely saying that it’s wrong that any club should be allowed to create an unfair competition by spending a lot of money and going into debt, then just writing it off.

If we went out today and bought Ruud van Nistelrooy, then wrote off the debt tomorrow, it would be wrong.

"I can’t do any more to change the rules. We’ve got a penalty situation in place. It’s gone through the rule books and there’s nothing more we can do about it.

“I’m not too popular with Leeds, Leicester or Ipswich come to that, but I’m not bothered. I’m only saying what other people are thinking. Ken Bates is not around any more, so somebody had to say it.”