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Bury boss David Flitcroft hopes to foster a special relationship with Wanderers now that the Neil Lennon era is under way.
Last month Joe Riley became the first player to transfer directly between the Lancastrian rivals for 27 years but it now appears the flow of players moving between the clubs could pick up.
Bolton-born Flitcroft has already investigated a loan deal for striker Conor Wilkinson and is hoping to offer a pathway to first-team football for other young Wanderers, given the chance, after being impressed with the quality on offer.
“We played a game against Bolton last week,” he said. “Wow – what I have learned from that is something quite special.
“They beat us 3-0, but it is the best Bolton Under-21s team I have visited. It was a brilliant game for us to look at in terms of recruitment, to see what they have got and see what they are doing.
“I think we have linked up well with Bolton on the deals to bring in Riles (Joe Riley) and Hayden White.
“We looked at Conor Wilkinson quite intently. The whole system is freed up, since Lenny has put three or four players into the first team - like your Josh Velas, and with Andy Kellet going to Manchester United.
“The thing is moving, and it’s brilliant to see lads who were stagnating starting to express themselves.
“It’s a link that certainly we want. Our chairman has got a fantastic relationship with Phil Gartside, so it is something that we can certainly look at.”
Source
Last month Joe Riley became the first player to transfer directly between the Lancastrian rivals for 27 years but it now appears the flow of players moving between the clubs could pick up.
Bolton-born Flitcroft has already investigated a loan deal for striker Conor Wilkinson and is hoping to offer a pathway to first-team football for other young Wanderers, given the chance, after being impressed with the quality on offer.
“We played a game against Bolton last week,” he said. “Wow – what I have learned from that is something quite special.
“They beat us 3-0, but it is the best Bolton Under-21s team I have visited. It was a brilliant game for us to look at in terms of recruitment, to see what they have got and see what they are doing.
“I think we have linked up well with Bolton on the deals to bring in Riles (Joe Riley) and Hayden White.
“We looked at Conor Wilkinson quite intently. The whole system is freed up, since Lenny has put three or four players into the first team - like your Josh Velas, and with Andy Kellet going to Manchester United.
“The thing is moving, and it’s brilliant to see lads who were stagnating starting to express themselves.
“It’s a link that certainly we want. Our chairman has got a fantastic relationship with Phil Gartside, so it is something that we can certainly look at.”
Source
