Home
KEN Anderson reckons automatic promotion is still up for grabs despite the tough luck which has fallen Wanderers’ way of late.
Injuries, illnesses and suspensions have all bitten hard into Phil Parkinson’s small squad, and made supporters – even the chairman – start to look over their shoulder in the league table.
AFC Wimbledon provide the first of 13 opponents before the end of the season, and after doing some calculations of his own, Anderson believes anything is still possible for the Whites.
“I have looked at the best and worst case scenarios, rather like the bookmakers would do, and what struck me was that so many of our rivals were playing against each other,” he told The Bolton News.
“You look at Oxford United, who are on the fringes of things at the moment, and the fact they now have a Wembley final to prepare for. We still have to go there.
“There will be twists and turns but all of a sudden that finishing line is coming into sight.
“Automatic promotion is certainly all still to play for.”
Jay Spearing this week became the latest ‘big-hitter’ side-lined by injury, joining the likes of Mark Davies, Darren Pratley, Lewis Buxton and Lawrie Wilson.
Anderson estimates the cost in wages to the club of injured players at around £4m – putting them on par with the likes of Southampton, Leicester City and Crystal Palace in a recent table complied by the Daily Mail newspaper.
“We have done really well with the squad we have at the moment, even though injuries and illnesses have not helped,” he said.
“We have spoken with the Football League and I sent them figures from an article which described how £80million had been paid out by Premier League clubs on injured players this season.
“We have paid £4million, which puts us about 10th alongside a club like Crystal Palace, whose squad has far more depth than our own, and by virtue of the fact they are where they are, the club’s income is much, much higher.”
Away from the pitch this week, Anderson and fellow co-owner Dean Holdsworth met separately with the Bolton Wanderers Supporters’ Trust to discuss ways they can potentially help the club.
A plan for the BWFCST to fund the academy was mooted last year but shelved after discussions over access to financial information.
Anderson has not ruled out the opportunity for a trust representative joining the board of directors in the future and hopes their impartiality could benefit in refinancing negotiations BluMarble, the company who loaned money to Holdsworth’s Sports Shield to fund the takeover last March.
“I know that the Supporters’ Trust want to help us but they have rules to that type of organisation and they have to do what me or you would call due diligence,” Anderson explained.
“They spoke to Dean Holdsworth on Tuesday before the game because they know one of the big issues holding things up at the moment is BluMarble. They have a dialogue with Dean and BluMarble, which I can only see as a good thing.
“Going forward, if they had help fund the business, or want a seat on the board, then that is something we can look at in due course.
“I have identified a few things I feel they can help with, and it is encouraging that we are having this regular dialogue.”
Alongside a potential ‘shirt sleeve sponsor’ next season, Anderson is also in advanced talks with companies who have expressed an interest in adorning Wanderers’ shirts.
The current deal with online gambling company Spin and Win expires soon and the chairman has been pleased with the standard of competition to succeed them.
“We’re a long way down the line with shirt sponsorship now and we’re probably down to two or three very good options,” he said.
“I am very happy with the way things have gone.”
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/15132250.Automatic_promotion_is_still_to_play_for__says_Wanderers_chairman_Ken_Anderson/?ref=mr&lp=5
Injuries, illnesses and suspensions have all bitten hard into Phil Parkinson’s small squad, and made supporters – even the chairman – start to look over their shoulder in the league table.
AFC Wimbledon provide the first of 13 opponents before the end of the season, and after doing some calculations of his own, Anderson believes anything is still possible for the Whites.
“I have looked at the best and worst case scenarios, rather like the bookmakers would do, and what struck me was that so many of our rivals were playing against each other,” he told The Bolton News.
“You look at Oxford United, who are on the fringes of things at the moment, and the fact they now have a Wembley final to prepare for. We still have to go there.
“There will be twists and turns but all of a sudden that finishing line is coming into sight.
“Automatic promotion is certainly all still to play for.”
Jay Spearing this week became the latest ‘big-hitter’ side-lined by injury, joining the likes of Mark Davies, Darren Pratley, Lewis Buxton and Lawrie Wilson.
Anderson estimates the cost in wages to the club of injured players at around £4m – putting them on par with the likes of Southampton, Leicester City and Crystal Palace in a recent table complied by the Daily Mail newspaper.
“We have done really well with the squad we have at the moment, even though injuries and illnesses have not helped,” he said.
“We have spoken with the Football League and I sent them figures from an article which described how £80million had been paid out by Premier League clubs on injured players this season.
“We have paid £4million, which puts us about 10th alongside a club like Crystal Palace, whose squad has far more depth than our own, and by virtue of the fact they are where they are, the club’s income is much, much higher.”
Away from the pitch this week, Anderson and fellow co-owner Dean Holdsworth met separately with the Bolton Wanderers Supporters’ Trust to discuss ways they can potentially help the club.
A plan for the BWFCST to fund the academy was mooted last year but shelved after discussions over access to financial information.
Anderson has not ruled out the opportunity for a trust representative joining the board of directors in the future and hopes their impartiality could benefit in refinancing negotiations BluMarble, the company who loaned money to Holdsworth’s Sports Shield to fund the takeover last March.
“I know that the Supporters’ Trust want to help us but they have rules to that type of organisation and they have to do what me or you would call due diligence,” Anderson explained.
“They spoke to Dean Holdsworth on Tuesday before the game because they know one of the big issues holding things up at the moment is BluMarble. They have a dialogue with Dean and BluMarble, which I can only see as a good thing.
“Going forward, if they had help fund the business, or want a seat on the board, then that is something we can look at in due course.
“I have identified a few things I feel they can help with, and it is encouraging that we are having this regular dialogue.”
Alongside a potential ‘shirt sleeve sponsor’ next season, Anderson is also in advanced talks with companies who have expressed an interest in adorning Wanderers’ shirts.
The current deal with online gambling company Spin and Win expires soon and the chairman has been pleased with the standard of competition to succeed them.
“We’re a long way down the line with shirt sponsorship now and we’re probably down to two or three very good options,” he said.
“I am very happy with the way things have gone.”
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/15132250.Automatic_promotion_is_still_to_play_for__says_Wanderers_chairman_Ken_Anderson/?ref=mr&lp=5
