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Whether or not Wanderers stave off the spectre of administration and usher in a new era in the boardroom, relegation to League One still looms large.
Regardless of what happens in the corridors of power at the Macron Stadium in the coming weeks and months, the players who run out against Hull City bear particular responsibility for the immediate future of the football club.
Should Wanderers drop into the third tier of football for the first time since 1993 then £5million is instantly wiped off the books in broadcasting and sponsorship revenues, and jobs will inevitably be lost.
The staff currently mucking in despite not knowing whether they will be paid this month will be rationalised, and the thought of returning to the promised land of the Premier League will disappear even further from sight.
And it is with that sobering thought in mind that Neil Lennon sends out his under-performing troops at the KC Stadium tomorrow.
Already four points adrift of safety, Wanderers may look at Tuesday night’s game at Charlton Athletic as being more pertinent to improving their position but the manager wants an immediate response after last weekend’s defeat against Cardiff to bring some semblance of cheer back at home.
“In the run up to Christmas and people could potentially not be paid, it’s obviously a stressful situation for a lot of people working within the club,” he told The Bolton News. “In terms of the players they seem okay.
“This should be an opportunity for the players to lead the club. And they can only do that by what they do on the pitch.
“If they can get some wins between now and Christmas that would really lift and buoy people – so this is an opportunity for them to become symbols, heroes.
“There’s nothing else out there for the fans to get behind, in terms of investment, in terms of someone coming in on their white horse and leading the club to safety.
“The players need to take the lead in this situation and do their bit for the club now.”
Lennon remains committed to the cause despite last weekend’s wastefulness in front of goal and defensive frailty still playing heavily on his mind.
He believes his players have enough about them to dig in their heels and grind out a result against a Tigers team enduring their first real run of poor results this season.
“You have got to compete and players are good enough to compete at this level though our recent record would suggest otherwise,” he said. “I didn’t see much wrong with the character last Saturday.
“We came back twice and should have gone on to win the game. I don’ think there is a lack of character and I don’t think there has been a lack through the week either.
“We have a tough game coming up and it can make or break you.
“Nobody will expect us to go up there and get a result but I use that as a motivation and so should the players.”
While Lennon’s focus must remain on how to get a result at Hull, he admits it has been difficult to ignore what has been going on around him.
The appointment of former footballer Trevor Birch as a financial advisor to the board has been a significant step for the club in communicating issues that had remained locked behind closed doors earlier in the season.
And that allowed Lennon to speak with some authority on the situation when he sat down with the local press yesterday morning.
“I can’t control what is going on,” he said. “Trevor has been brought in because he’s a specialist in this type of thing. He briefs me every day and I’ve got a good relationship with him – and he’s a football man as well so we can chew the fat over that side of things as well.
“I have a fair idea where we are in the takeover. It could be a week, it could be longer. He hasn’t got a crystal ball and neither have I.
“I think with a process like this you would like more time to do everything properly. I suppose people who were really interested in buying the club would want more time – but that seems to be of the essence.
“I think Trevor would like more time as well. It’s not like he’s delaying anything or holding up the deal.”
Source
Regardless of what happens in the corridors of power at the Macron Stadium in the coming weeks and months, the players who run out against Hull City bear particular responsibility for the immediate future of the football club.
Should Wanderers drop into the third tier of football for the first time since 1993 then £5million is instantly wiped off the books in broadcasting and sponsorship revenues, and jobs will inevitably be lost.
The staff currently mucking in despite not knowing whether they will be paid this month will be rationalised, and the thought of returning to the promised land of the Premier League will disappear even further from sight.
And it is with that sobering thought in mind that Neil Lennon sends out his under-performing troops at the KC Stadium tomorrow.
Already four points adrift of safety, Wanderers may look at Tuesday night’s game at Charlton Athletic as being more pertinent to improving their position but the manager wants an immediate response after last weekend’s defeat against Cardiff to bring some semblance of cheer back at home.
“In the run up to Christmas and people could potentially not be paid, it’s obviously a stressful situation for a lot of people working within the club,” he told The Bolton News. “In terms of the players they seem okay.
“This should be an opportunity for the players to lead the club. And they can only do that by what they do on the pitch.
“If they can get some wins between now and Christmas that would really lift and buoy people – so this is an opportunity for them to become symbols, heroes.
“There’s nothing else out there for the fans to get behind, in terms of investment, in terms of someone coming in on their white horse and leading the club to safety.
“The players need to take the lead in this situation and do their bit for the club now.”
Lennon remains committed to the cause despite last weekend’s wastefulness in front of goal and defensive frailty still playing heavily on his mind.
He believes his players have enough about them to dig in their heels and grind out a result against a Tigers team enduring their first real run of poor results this season.
“You have got to compete and players are good enough to compete at this level though our recent record would suggest otherwise,” he said. “I didn’t see much wrong with the character last Saturday.
“We came back twice and should have gone on to win the game. I don’ think there is a lack of character and I don’t think there has been a lack through the week either.
“We have a tough game coming up and it can make or break you.
“Nobody will expect us to go up there and get a result but I use that as a motivation and so should the players.”
While Lennon’s focus must remain on how to get a result at Hull, he admits it has been difficult to ignore what has been going on around him.
The appointment of former footballer Trevor Birch as a financial advisor to the board has been a significant step for the club in communicating issues that had remained locked behind closed doors earlier in the season.
And that allowed Lennon to speak with some authority on the situation when he sat down with the local press yesterday morning.
“I can’t control what is going on,” he said. “Trevor has been brought in because he’s a specialist in this type of thing. He briefs me every day and I’ve got a good relationship with him – and he’s a football man as well so we can chew the fat over that side of things as well.
“I have a fair idea where we are in the takeover. It could be a week, it could be longer. He hasn’t got a crystal ball and neither have I.
“I think with a process like this you would like more time to do everything properly. I suppose people who were really interested in buying the club would want more time – but that seems to be of the essence.
“I think Trevor would like more time as well. It’s not like he’s delaying anything or holding up the deal.”
Source
