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Neil Lennon will hand his team in at 2pm tomorrow knowing he is not guaranteed to work with any of the names he has written down again.
Such is the uncertainty swirling around the Macron Stadium at present the Wanderers boss has no idea how many of his players could leave by the time they face Wolves at Molineux on Tuesday evening.
Success against Leeds United coupled with a favourable fifth-round draw might just fend off a few of the circling vultures, and would doubtlessly please the cash registers. But the Northern Irishman sat down to preview the game knowing full well the right offer could see any of his players depart in the final few days of the transfer window.
“We know we might need to sell players,” he told The Bolton News. “It is very quiet right now but it might change by Monday, in fact I’m sure it will.
“Thankfully, there hasn’t been anything that has come to me this week. I don’t know whether from a business point of view that is a good thing, though.
“It’s one of the many things we’re having to deal with in the build-up to a very important game.”
In fisherman’s terms, there have been a few nibbles for Wanderers’ players in recent weeks, but no biters. The one major deal let off the hook was Zach Clough, who turned down a £2million move to Bristol City for personal reasons.
Wanderers have not actively sought to sell their players but their vulnerability is no secret and with the likes of Clough, Josh Vela, Mark Davies, Liam Feeney, Darren Pratley and Dean Moxey coveted elsewhere, there are no guarantees how hard Lennon’s squad will be hit.
In a cruel twist, the warning of further financial cuts comes at a time when the Whites are experiencing their best run of victories in a year.
Optimism has risen with results against Eastleigh and MK Dons and as his side look for a third consecutive win for the first time since April 2014, Lennon admits to an unfamiliar but not unwelcome feeling in the build-up to the game.
“It is rare… I just need to keep the players bubbling over and from my point of view, I just hope I get to keep them around until after Monday,” he said.
“We will see what the next few days bring.”
Despite the takeover situation taking a twist overnight on Wednesday and Thursday, Lennon has received no indication from the boardroom he should start preparing for the worst.
“I’ve had nothing this week, it’s been quiet,” he said. “With the validation coming through and wages being paid this week, I’m happy enough with that.”
Fans are preparing for the boardroom uncertainty to extend well into February – when the adjourned High Court case against a winding up order from HMRC will be heard once again.
Results, both in the cup and the Championship will play a large part in dictating what the club do from here.
But for Lennon – who has often found himself stuck betwixt and between during the financial ordeal – it is still a surprise to see the club has not been bought.
“I’m amazed,” he said. “I don’t have that amount of money myself but if I did it would be something I’d consider because with the stadium and the academy, the infrastructure is excellent. The potential is very good.
“We’re getting some very good young players coming through all of a sudden – Rob Holding, Zach Clough, Josh Vela – these guys are the future of the club. It augurs well.
“It would be sad to see that whittled away. Unfortunately that’s the situation we find ourselves in at the moment.”
Some hope has been salvaged with the sale of car parking land – a deal which is expected to be rubber stamped today.
"It’s enough to keep us going until the end of the season,” explained the manager. “That should buy us enough time to find the right buyer or ‘a buyer’ to take things on.
“From my point of view I hope a potential candidate comes forward and secures the long-term future of the club.”
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Such is the uncertainty swirling around the Macron Stadium at present the Wanderers boss has no idea how many of his players could leave by the time they face Wolves at Molineux on Tuesday evening.
Success against Leeds United coupled with a favourable fifth-round draw might just fend off a few of the circling vultures, and would doubtlessly please the cash registers. But the Northern Irishman sat down to preview the game knowing full well the right offer could see any of his players depart in the final few days of the transfer window.
“We know we might need to sell players,” he told The Bolton News. “It is very quiet right now but it might change by Monday, in fact I’m sure it will.
“Thankfully, there hasn’t been anything that has come to me this week. I don’t know whether from a business point of view that is a good thing, though.
“It’s one of the many things we’re having to deal with in the build-up to a very important game.”
In fisherman’s terms, there have been a few nibbles for Wanderers’ players in recent weeks, but no biters. The one major deal let off the hook was Zach Clough, who turned down a £2million move to Bristol City for personal reasons.
Wanderers have not actively sought to sell their players but their vulnerability is no secret and with the likes of Clough, Josh Vela, Mark Davies, Liam Feeney, Darren Pratley and Dean Moxey coveted elsewhere, there are no guarantees how hard Lennon’s squad will be hit.
In a cruel twist, the warning of further financial cuts comes at a time when the Whites are experiencing their best run of victories in a year.
Optimism has risen with results against Eastleigh and MK Dons and as his side look for a third consecutive win for the first time since April 2014, Lennon admits to an unfamiliar but not unwelcome feeling in the build-up to the game.
“It is rare… I just need to keep the players bubbling over and from my point of view, I just hope I get to keep them around until after Monday,” he said.
“We will see what the next few days bring.”
Despite the takeover situation taking a twist overnight on Wednesday and Thursday, Lennon has received no indication from the boardroom he should start preparing for the worst.
“I’ve had nothing this week, it’s been quiet,” he said. “With the validation coming through and wages being paid this week, I’m happy enough with that.”
Fans are preparing for the boardroom uncertainty to extend well into February – when the adjourned High Court case against a winding up order from HMRC will be heard once again.
Results, both in the cup and the Championship will play a large part in dictating what the club do from here.
But for Lennon – who has often found himself stuck betwixt and between during the financial ordeal – it is still a surprise to see the club has not been bought.
“I’m amazed,” he said. “I don’t have that amount of money myself but if I did it would be something I’d consider because with the stadium and the academy, the infrastructure is excellent. The potential is very good.
“We’re getting some very good young players coming through all of a sudden – Rob Holding, Zach Clough, Josh Vela – these guys are the future of the club. It augurs well.
“It would be sad to see that whittled away. Unfortunately that’s the situation we find ourselves in at the moment.”
Some hope has been salvaged with the sale of car parking land – a deal which is expected to be rubber stamped today.
"It’s enough to keep us going until the end of the season,” explained the manager. “That should buy us enough time to find the right buyer or ‘a buyer’ to take things on.
“From my point of view I hope a potential candidate comes forward and secures the long-term future of the club.”
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