BOLTON Wanderers’ parent company, Football Ventures (Whites) Limited has reported group losses of £5.6million for the year ending June 30, 2023.

The figure is up on the previous year’s £3.69m despite a sharp rise in turnover of more than 40 per cent, from £13.8m to £19.4m.

A bond issued in the summer raised £4.3m, to help fund player purchases, capital projects and improvements to the sports science department.

Wanderers also received shareholder funding of £2.75m during the account reporting period and a further £2.25m being added after that. This included two separate share issues to Swiss company BMLL.

Wages and salaries across the group have climbed from £10.264m to £12.834m and staff numbers, including the football department, hotel and matchday personnel have also increased from 384 to 416.

Transfer and agent fees paid out by the club since the last reporting period (June 30, 2023) total £1.032m, including the signing of Victor Adeboyejo, Randell Williams, Cameron Jerome and loanees Shola Shoretire, Luke Mbete and Dan Nlundulu – who made his move from Southampton permanent in the summer.

In the notes which accompany the accounts, published by Companies House, the club say that despite an increase in losses the group has a “sound financial base from which to further improve the business.”

It adds: “The group is reliant on funding from its shareholders and as such funding has been and continues to be made available from the shareholders when required.”

In a statement on the Wanderers website, chairman Sharon Brittan said: “The 2022/23 season proved progressive both on and off the pitch, as a playoff place finish along with increased revenue further strengthened the club’s financial foundations and future.

“We look forward to the remainder of the 2023/24 season as we continue this exciting journey together.”

The commercial success of the club was underlined in big improvement to revenues such as £6.249m in gate receipts, up from £4,943m the previous year.

Corporate sales rose from £805,697 to £2,508.269 and merchandising improved from £693,000 to £1.158m.

The Whites Hotel brought in £4.366m, up on last year’s £3.682m and food and beverage sold inside the stadium brought in £2.246m compared to £1.632m in 2022.

The FanZone made £187,760 in its first year in operation.