THE appointment of a private firm to run Bolton's ailing leisure centres -- at present managed by the council --has been delayed.

The borough's 12 leisure centres were due to be placed into a public-private sector partnership this week, but a council spokesman confirmed today that a decision on a private operator was still "two to three weeks" away.

In the meantime, one of the companies bidding for the contract has pulled out.

Millions of pounds are needed to upgrade the leisure centres across the borough, with Horwich Leisure Centre being in particular need of repairs.

Council chiefs have said they are unable to finance the modernisation work required and they decided to bring in a private company.

One of the requirements of the firm to be appointed is that it will spend money on bringing the centres up to scratch. Bolton Council will still own the buildings.

Three companies are still bidding for the contract and the council's leisure services chiefs are scrutinising the merits of each bid.

The company running the Bolton Arena is believed to be one of the bidders, despite the fact that the Arena only breaks even each year and has to be partly funded by taxpayers in the form of a monthly subsidy.

Bolton Council has said in the past that it would not allow the Arena to use the funds it gains for its Middlebrook facility on other leisure centres should its bid be successful.

The leisure centres would have to be run from an entirely separate pot of money.

Paul Walker, the council's assistant director for education and culture, would not comment on whether the Arena was one of the final three bidders.

He said: "We are still in the evaluation process. Each of the companies has been informed of this and is happy about it.

"We want to get the right firm to partner Bolton Council and are determined to get it right.

"If that means the transfer of the leisure centres into part private hands is delayed, then so be it."

The Excel Centre, Farnworth Leisure Centre and Horwich Leisure Centre will be the first to be run by the private partnership. Centres at Westhoughton, Deane, Turton, Sharples, Kearsley, Hayward, Little Lever, Harper Green and Withins would follow.