Hat-trick of new signings set up busy week at Bolton Wanderers

Wanderers set their transfer window charge in motion yesterday with THREE new signings.

Keith Hill landed a potential coup with the signing of non-league hot-shot Mo Faal from Enfield Town, brought in hard-working Manchester United midfielder Ethan Hamilton and added youngster George Thomason from North West Counties side Longridge Town.

And it is unlikely to be the last deal of the week, with Bolton now facing the prospect of replacing all of the loan players they had in the first half of the campaign.

The club has confirmed that Thibaud Verlinden, Jake Wright and Josh Earl have returned to their parent club but it is understood Liam Bridcutt could soon follow suit, with the midfielder mulling over an offer from a League One rival.

Wanderers remain in the hunt for defensive reinforcements and Hill yesterday put back his weekly media call to Friday afternoon to allow maximum focus on bringing new signings in before the noon deadline required to play at the weekend.

Nevertheless, it has been an encouraging start to the week for the Bolton boss, who beat a cluster of clubs to the signing of 22-year-old striker Faal, who scored an impressive 27 goals in 30 appearances in the Isthmian Premier League, on an 18-month deal.

"It feels great to be here. I am ecstatic to have got the deal done and I just can't wait to get started,” he told the club.

"First and foremost, I want to say I will work hard for this team. The team always comes first.

"But saying that, I like to get on the ball and score goals. I am looking forward to showing the fans what I can do."

Later, on his official Twitter account, Faal added: “Alhamdulilah, I’m blessed and delighted to have signed for such a massive club as Bolton Wanderers. I’m excited to work hard and give 100 per cent for the club, the fans and to take on this new challenge.”

Hamilton, a former Scotland youth international, should also go straight into the squad for Saturday’s game at Rochdale after signing on loan for the rest of the campaign.

The 21-year-old was signed on loan at Spotland by Hill last January and also spent the first half of this season at Southend, making 18 appearances.

Former Blackpool trainee George Thomason has also signed for the Whites having played 26 times for Longridge Town in the North West Counties League.

Source

Interesting signings, especially Faal. Several clubs were having a serious look at the guy so the fact he's come to us strikes me as encouraging. Good start to the window for a change. Sad to see Earl go though, I thought he was very good for us and would have liked to see him here for the whole season.

Definitely exciting signings - I get the impression we’re preparing for life in league 2 already though (which may be a good strategy).

Sending back players we won’t have next year - presumably to bed in/give experience to the ones we will and signing young players looking to step up.

Does the embargo not apply to signing non-league players?

wanderlust wrote:Does the embargo not apply to signing non-league players?

From memory and without looking everything up again -

We can sign anyone we like but we can't pay a fee for them (not even a loan fee) and can't pay wages of more than £2k pw to them.

Squad size limited to 26 (iirc?) but academy players aren't included in that number.

We can loan up to seven players I think (it used to be unlimited) BUT only 5 can be named in the match day squad and only 3 play on the day - or something like that.

Sluffy wrote:

wanderlust wrote:Does the embargo not apply to signing non-league players?

From memory and without looking everything up again -

We can sign anyone we like but we can't pay a fee for them (not even a loan fee) and can't pay wages of more than £2k pw to them.

Squad size limited to 26 (iirc?) but academy players aren't included in that number.

We can loan up to seven players I think (it used to be unlimited) BUT only 5 can be named in the match day squad and only 3 play on the day - or something like that.

23 It is Sluffy

So there's no distinction between league and non-league players? Cheers chaps.