Football Season Guide

Bolton are coming from an absolute nightmare of a season, which saw them struggle both on and off the pitch, with their persistent financial problems making it impossible for them to regroup and avoid an inevitable relegation to the third tier. The Trotters have therefore joined an ever-growing list of clubs that finished a transition from the Premier League to League One in a relatively short period of time, but are determined to at least bounce straight up to the second tier at the first time of asking. Predictably, their relegation has caused an exodus of players, with numerous players leaving the club, but, despite their financial situations, they have managed to attract four players who are proven at League One level, as well as Bradford's highly-rated manager Phil Parkinson. Their ability to attract Parkinson proves that, despite their decline, Bolton are a huge club by League One standards, given the fact that Parkinson was willing to leave a well-run club with a huge average attendance in order to join the Trotters. They have managed to retain some quality players, such as Darren Pratley, Mark Davies, Jay Spearing, Josh Vela, Max Clayton and Gary Madine, with their midfield looking particularly impressive, as a glance at the players playing in it would make one think that Bolton are still a Championship clubs. Obviously, transitioning following a relegation is never easy, but Bolton have definitely kept enough of their squad to feel that they can go back up at the first time of asking.