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Kevin Davies has called for the people of Bolton to rally round the newly-formed Supporters’ Trust – and then see how far they can go.
After watching 1,000 fans vote overwhelmingly to get the project off the ground on Wednesday night, the former Wanderers skipper has pledged to do what he can to try and help the trust in its formative stage.
More than 200 people have come forward to donate their time and specific skills and Davies hopes the enthusiasm which has been clear from the start in this project will encourage those with financial backing to come forward too.
“You don’t know what will happen,” he told The Bolton News. “Look at the trust at Portsmouth from where they were to where they are now.
“It took two or three years for them to get to that stage but now that this thing is up and running, it’s a great start. Now they can get taken seriously. They can sit down with Trevor Birch and see if they can help in any way.
“The guys who have run it so far seem very ambitious. I have kept in touch with Chris Peacock and they have got through a lot of hard work.
“If they can find people now who are willing to invest – a joint thing – then maybe they sit down and talk in a bit more detail. It’s viable now and it’s great to have seen such passion from the fans.
“It's going to take a lot of skilled people coming in and hopefully a bit of investment from people, get the ball rolling. You get one or two on board, show that belief, somewhere down the line you may have a proposal to the club – who knows?
“It is a great start but there is a long way and a lot of hard work to go.”
The process of setting up a steering group of around 12 people is now well underway and being overseen by Supporters Direct.
Davies and fellow Wanderers legend John McGinlay lent their backing to the trust on Wednesday night and have been vocal in their support.
But tellingly, the presence of Trevor Birch, the board’s financial advisor, plus two club directors in Anthony Massey and Richard Gee, gave Wednesday’s open meeting an authoritative stamp of approval.
Davies says he was “proud” of the town’s response in midweek and will continue to assist in what he believes is a positive step for the club and its fans.
“To be honest it was a very emotional night seeing that outpouring of support,” he said. “We know a lot of questions still need to be answered and that the club is still in a perilous position but this is a start.
“I've got a lot of things going on with my own life – charity, all those voluntary things I've done for the community, why not do it a little bit more?
“I can't see myself leaving Bolton any time soon. Of course I'll try and help them.
“If I can help in any way in meetings, I'm retired now – I've got a bit more time on my hands, I'd be happy to sit down and lend my support.”
Davies’s message to Wanderers fans is simple: “Make sure you have a voice.”
“I’d just say to get behind them,” he said. “Register, keep in touch, know what is going on – it’s easy to find online or in the paper.
“They are not asking for money from people right now. It’s about sitting down with Supporters Direct and conjuring up a plan. Whether that plan is about investing money or making sure they have a voice when someone else comes in, then that is down to who joins up.
“One of the Pompey guys said something that struck me – and that was someone could join the trust who could then become the new owner. It’s how these things start.
“Numbers like this have to be listened to. They have a voice.
“They are the ones coming week in, week out, supporting the club, have been for decades and will do for the next decades hopefully.”
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After watching 1,000 fans vote overwhelmingly to get the project off the ground on Wednesday night, the former Wanderers skipper has pledged to do what he can to try and help the trust in its formative stage.
More than 200 people have come forward to donate their time and specific skills and Davies hopes the enthusiasm which has been clear from the start in this project will encourage those with financial backing to come forward too.
“You don’t know what will happen,” he told The Bolton News. “Look at the trust at Portsmouth from where they were to where they are now.
“It took two or three years for them to get to that stage but now that this thing is up and running, it’s a great start. Now they can get taken seriously. They can sit down with Trevor Birch and see if they can help in any way.
“The guys who have run it so far seem very ambitious. I have kept in touch with Chris Peacock and they have got through a lot of hard work.
“If they can find people now who are willing to invest – a joint thing – then maybe they sit down and talk in a bit more detail. It’s viable now and it’s great to have seen such passion from the fans.
“It's going to take a lot of skilled people coming in and hopefully a bit of investment from people, get the ball rolling. You get one or two on board, show that belief, somewhere down the line you may have a proposal to the club – who knows?
“It is a great start but there is a long way and a lot of hard work to go.”
The process of setting up a steering group of around 12 people is now well underway and being overseen by Supporters Direct.
Davies and fellow Wanderers legend John McGinlay lent their backing to the trust on Wednesday night and have been vocal in their support.
But tellingly, the presence of Trevor Birch, the board’s financial advisor, plus two club directors in Anthony Massey and Richard Gee, gave Wednesday’s open meeting an authoritative stamp of approval.
Davies says he was “proud” of the town’s response in midweek and will continue to assist in what he believes is a positive step for the club and its fans.
“To be honest it was a very emotional night seeing that outpouring of support,” he said. “We know a lot of questions still need to be answered and that the club is still in a perilous position but this is a start.
“I've got a lot of things going on with my own life – charity, all those voluntary things I've done for the community, why not do it a little bit more?
“I can't see myself leaving Bolton any time soon. Of course I'll try and help them.
“If I can help in any way in meetings, I'm retired now – I've got a bit more time on my hands, I'd be happy to sit down and lend my support.”
Davies’s message to Wanderers fans is simple: “Make sure you have a voice.”
“I’d just say to get behind them,” he said. “Register, keep in touch, know what is going on – it’s easy to find online or in the paper.
“They are not asking for money from people right now. It’s about sitting down with Supporters Direct and conjuring up a plan. Whether that plan is about investing money or making sure they have a voice when someone else comes in, then that is down to who joins up.
“One of the Pompey guys said something that struck me – and that was someone could join the trust who could then become the new owner. It’s how these things start.
“Numbers like this have to be listened to. They have a voice.
“They are the ones coming week in, week out, supporting the club, have been for decades and will do for the next decades hopefully.”
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