The chairman of Forest Green Rovers has launched a scathing attack on Bolton Wanderers owner Ken Anderson and vowed to sue the embattled Championship club for alleged breach of contract over the collapse of the transfer of striker Christian Doidge.

Dale Vince said he was commencing legal proceedings against Bolton after claiming the club reneged on an obligation to buy Doidge for £1 million this month following a loan spell in which Forest Green ended up footing the bill for the player’s wages.

Bolton were due to pay Forest Green the first £250,000 instalment of the transfer fee on Jan 3 but pulled the plug on the deal after being placed under a registration embargo by the Football League (EFL), which prompted Doidge to return to the League Two club despite having agreed a three-year contract with the Championship side.

Vince said the EFL had agreed to reimburse Forest Green for Doidge’s wages from money that is due to Bolton this month, which the EFL confirmed on Monday. It is understood the sum, which Vince said Bolton had agreed to pay under the terms of the loan, is in excess of £30,000.

Bolton said in a statement on Monday that they were still hopeful of a “satisfactory resolution” over Doidge and said they were “disappointed” by a statement Forest Green had issued on Sunday night in which Vince condemned Anderson’s behaviour.