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Wanderers are giving serious consideration to downgrading their academy status to category three as part of their cost-cutting drive.
The Bolton News understands several staff – including former interim boss Jimmy Phillips – could find their position at risk if the club move to a part-time coaching network, saving between £400,000-500,000 a year.
No firm decision has been reached and Wanderers are working with the Football League before filing the relevant paperwork at the end of July.
It is believed the club’s ownership want to divert the majority of their available funds towards the first team next season in an effort to make an immediate return to the Championship.
But the new manager – who has now agreed terms with the club and is waiting for official confirmation – may also have a say in what happens at the Lostock facility, which is also being shared by the first team.
An invitation has gone out to the Bolton Wanderers Supporters’ Trust to see if they can provide financial assistance and representatives have met with both Holdsworth and Anderson in the last two weeks.
The Bolton News has learned, however, that the trust wants to see a detailed business funding plan in order to do due diligence before committing to any deal, which would also require the backing of their membership.
The time frame involved would also work against the trust stepping in at this late stage to take the academy on as category two – with their first elections only due this summer – but they have responded to both Anderson and Holdsworth to suggest a longer-term strategy would be preferable.
That points to the short-term outcome being a drop in status for the academy, which would mean a reduction in the number of full-time staff.
some of whom are due to meet with ownership later this week.
Both Burnley and Wigan Athletic operate their academy at the same level, as do lesser lights such as Fleetwood Town and Morecambe. Clubs at that level are free to arrange friendly games against category one sides but would play their league football in the Youth Alliance.
Wanderers became the first club ever to forfeit their category one status last summer.
and may now see cuts as economically viable despite relying heavily on graduates such as Rob Holding, Zach Clough, Josh Vela and Tyler Garratt last season.
Source
The Bolton News understands several staff – including former interim boss Jimmy Phillips – could find their position at risk if the club move to a part-time coaching network, saving between £400,000-500,000 a year.
No firm decision has been reached and Wanderers are working with the Football League before filing the relevant paperwork at the end of July.
It is believed the club’s ownership want to divert the majority of their available funds towards the first team next season in an effort to make an immediate return to the Championship.
But the new manager – who has now agreed terms with the club and is waiting for official confirmation – may also have a say in what happens at the Lostock facility, which is also being shared by the first team.
An invitation has gone out to the Bolton Wanderers Supporters’ Trust to see if they can provide financial assistance and representatives have met with both Holdsworth and Anderson in the last two weeks.
The Bolton News has learned, however, that the trust wants to see a detailed business funding plan in order to do due diligence before committing to any deal, which would also require the backing of their membership.
The time frame involved would also work against the trust stepping in at this late stage to take the academy on as category two – with their first elections only due this summer – but they have responded to both Anderson and Holdsworth to suggest a longer-term strategy would be preferable.
That points to the short-term outcome being a drop in status for the academy, which would mean a reduction in the number of full-time staff.
some of whom are due to meet with ownership later this week.
Both Burnley and Wigan Athletic operate their academy at the same level, as do lesser lights such as Fleetwood Town and Morecambe. Clubs at that level are free to arrange friendly games against category one sides but would play their league football in the Youth Alliance.
Wanderers became the first club ever to forfeit their category one status last summer.
and may now see cuts as economically viable despite relying heavily on graduates such as Rob Holding, Zach Clough, Josh Vela and Tyler Garratt last season.
Source
