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TRANSFER fees have been few and far between since Wanderers dropped out of the Premier League – but could now be on their way back. Ken Anderson has pledged that Phil Parkinson will get cash to spend this summer and will not be restricted solely to the free transfer market. Excluding loan fees, Wanderers have paid upfront for just a dozen permanent deals in six seasons outside the top flight. Here we look at what happened next to those 12 players and ask: Did Bolton really get their money’s worth in the end?
Filip Twardzik
(£75,000 from Celtic – Feb 2015)
Czech midfielder who arrived on a manic deadline day under Neil Lennon, who actually scored on his debut at Derby. Beyond that, the former Parkhead man found it tough to fit in. Released in 2017 and now playing at home for MFK Vitkovice.
Value for money: 3/10
Kaiyne Woolery
(£11,000 from Tamworth – Aug 2014)
Jet-heeled striker who was Dougie Freedman’s last cash signing and one who turned some heads in his two-year Bolton stay. Scored a winner against Rotherham United and another against Leeds United in the season Wanderers were relegated but then got sold for a rumoured £100,000 to Wigan Athletic a few games into Phil Parkinson’s first season. Played for Forest Green and then signed by Swindon for £300,000 last July.
Value for money: 7/10
Connor Wilkinson
(tribunal fee from Millwall – Jul 2013)
The fee to sign one-time Benfica target Wilkinson was never officially announced but is thought to be £50,000. Wilkinson never really fulfilled that potential, making just six starts in four seasons under three managers and being sent out on eight loan spells. Now settled at Gillingham in League One.
Value for money: 4/10
Hayden White
(tribunal fee from Sheff Wed – Jul 2013)
Speedy full-back plucked from Wednesday’s academy after turning down a pro deal at Hillsborough. Plunged into a debut when Tim Ream broke his nose five minutes in a match at QPR but never quite made his case at senior level. After his release in July 2016 White matured, filled-out, and became a very handy lower league centre-back, now at Mansfield Town.
Value for money: 4/10
Jay Spearing
(initial £1.4m from Liverpool – Jul 2013)
The terrier-like midfielder had been a big hit on loan the previous season and was described as a “blue chip” signing by Dougie Freedman. He perhaps never quite reached the heights of that first season in a Bolton shirt – but Spearing played a huge part in getting promotion back to the Championship, and remained a popular player in the dressing room and on the terraces right up to his controversial exit on a free transfer last summer. Signed for Blackpool and may now be seeking pastures new.
Value for money: 7/10
Rob Hall
(initial £450,000 from West Ham – Jul 2013)
Another tribunal case, the talented winger was also given a big billing by Freedman, who suggested the ex-Hammers academy lad would become one of the best players outside the Premier League. But a bonus-laden deal, which eventually rose to around £1.5m, always looked an expensive burden, especially as times got tight. Hall made 16 starts and was eventually loaned out to MK Dons to save on bonus fees. Battled back from a serious knee injury to sign for Oxford.
Value for money: 4/10
Jermaine Beckford
(£1m from Leicester City – Jul 2013)
One of the messiest transfers in recent memory, in which neither club involved agreed on the final fee paid. It had been a protracted chase for Freedman to sign his former team-mate but although his quality shone through in patches, the striker struggled to find top form in a team which didn’t play to his strengths and his big wage once again felt like a millstone around the club’s neck. Moved on to Preston – helping them to promotion – and now at Bury.
n Value for money: 5/10
Cian Bolger
(£75,000 from Leicester City – Jan 2013)
A low-key capture for Freedman but a rare profit turned, as the big Irish defender failed to make the first team grade but was snapped up in a £150,000 deal by Phil Brown at Southend United. Now a solid first team regular at Fleetwood Town.
Value for money: 8/10
Medo Kamara
(£750,000 from Partizan – Jan 2013)
Another deal which had hidden bonuses, the Sierra Leone midfielder made a good start to his career at Bolton, where Freedman was convinced he could be sold on for a considerable profit. The Scot’s exit proved disastrous for Medo, who quickly slipped into obscurity and never made a single appearance under Neil Lennon. Now playing in Kuwait.
Value for money: 5/10
Craig Davies
(£300,000 from Barnsley – Jan 2013)
Strong striker who, had it not been for niggling injuries, could have been a big hit with Wanderers. The Wales international scored 10 goals in his two-and-a-half year stay, forging a decent partnership with Eidur Gudjohnsen, before a surprise release in the summer of 2015. Since played for Wigan, Scunthorpe and now Oldham Athletic.
Andy Lonergan
(£200,000 from Leeds – Jul 2012)
‘And here’s to you Andy Lonergan’ – the popular keeper was signed by Owen Coyle but initially played second fiddle to Adam Bogdan, and then later to Ben Amos. A fine shot-stopper who did a decent job when he did nail down a place in the side but made an ignominious final appearance at Forest when he suffered concussion after conceding a penalty.
Value for money: 7/10
Matt Mills
(£2m from Leicester City – July 2012)
A statement of Wanderers’ intent to bounce straight back to the Premier League – but the kind of big salary which ended up hurting them. Mills was solid, and even captained the club, but his release in May 2015 summed up the financial problems Bolton had encumbered.
n Value for money: 5/10
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wanderers/16240906.It__39_s_one_for_the_money__Wanderers__39__last_12_transfer_fees/
Filip Twardzik
(£75,000 from Celtic – Feb 2015)
Czech midfielder who arrived on a manic deadline day under Neil Lennon, who actually scored on his debut at Derby. Beyond that, the former Parkhead man found it tough to fit in. Released in 2017 and now playing at home for MFK Vitkovice.
Value for money: 3/10
Kaiyne Woolery
(£11,000 from Tamworth – Aug 2014)
Jet-heeled striker who was Dougie Freedman’s last cash signing and one who turned some heads in his two-year Bolton stay. Scored a winner against Rotherham United and another against Leeds United in the season Wanderers were relegated but then got sold for a rumoured £100,000 to Wigan Athletic a few games into Phil Parkinson’s first season. Played for Forest Green and then signed by Swindon for £300,000 last July.
Value for money: 7/10
Connor Wilkinson
(tribunal fee from Millwall – Jul 2013)
The fee to sign one-time Benfica target Wilkinson was never officially announced but is thought to be £50,000. Wilkinson never really fulfilled that potential, making just six starts in four seasons under three managers and being sent out on eight loan spells. Now settled at Gillingham in League One.
Value for money: 4/10
Hayden White
(tribunal fee from Sheff Wed – Jul 2013)
Speedy full-back plucked from Wednesday’s academy after turning down a pro deal at Hillsborough. Plunged into a debut when Tim Ream broke his nose five minutes in a match at QPR but never quite made his case at senior level. After his release in July 2016 White matured, filled-out, and became a very handy lower league centre-back, now at Mansfield Town.
Value for money: 4/10
Jay Spearing
(initial £1.4m from Liverpool – Jul 2013)
The terrier-like midfielder had been a big hit on loan the previous season and was described as a “blue chip” signing by Dougie Freedman. He perhaps never quite reached the heights of that first season in a Bolton shirt – but Spearing played a huge part in getting promotion back to the Championship, and remained a popular player in the dressing room and on the terraces right up to his controversial exit on a free transfer last summer. Signed for Blackpool and may now be seeking pastures new.
Value for money: 7/10
Rob Hall
(initial £450,000 from West Ham – Jul 2013)
Another tribunal case, the talented winger was also given a big billing by Freedman, who suggested the ex-Hammers academy lad would become one of the best players outside the Premier League. But a bonus-laden deal, which eventually rose to around £1.5m, always looked an expensive burden, especially as times got tight. Hall made 16 starts and was eventually loaned out to MK Dons to save on bonus fees. Battled back from a serious knee injury to sign for Oxford.
Value for money: 4/10
Jermaine Beckford
(£1m from Leicester City – Jul 2013)
One of the messiest transfers in recent memory, in which neither club involved agreed on the final fee paid. It had been a protracted chase for Freedman to sign his former team-mate but although his quality shone through in patches, the striker struggled to find top form in a team which didn’t play to his strengths and his big wage once again felt like a millstone around the club’s neck. Moved on to Preston – helping them to promotion – and now at Bury.
n Value for money: 5/10
Cian Bolger
(£75,000 from Leicester City – Jan 2013)
A low-key capture for Freedman but a rare profit turned, as the big Irish defender failed to make the first team grade but was snapped up in a £150,000 deal by Phil Brown at Southend United. Now a solid first team regular at Fleetwood Town.
Value for money: 8/10
Medo Kamara
(£750,000 from Partizan – Jan 2013)
Another deal which had hidden bonuses, the Sierra Leone midfielder made a good start to his career at Bolton, where Freedman was convinced he could be sold on for a considerable profit. The Scot’s exit proved disastrous for Medo, who quickly slipped into obscurity and never made a single appearance under Neil Lennon. Now playing in Kuwait.
Value for money: 5/10
Craig Davies
(£300,000 from Barnsley – Jan 2013)
Strong striker who, had it not been for niggling injuries, could have been a big hit with Wanderers. The Wales international scored 10 goals in his two-and-a-half year stay, forging a decent partnership with Eidur Gudjohnsen, before a surprise release in the summer of 2015. Since played for Wigan, Scunthorpe and now Oldham Athletic.
Andy Lonergan
(£200,000 from Leeds – Jul 2012)
‘And here’s to you Andy Lonergan’ – the popular keeper was signed by Owen Coyle but initially played second fiddle to Adam Bogdan, and then later to Ben Amos. A fine shot-stopper who did a decent job when he did nail down a place in the side but made an ignominious final appearance at Forest when he suffered concussion after conceding a penalty.
Value for money: 7/10
Matt Mills
(£2m from Leicester City – July 2012)
A statement of Wanderers’ intent to bounce straight back to the Premier League – but the kind of big salary which ended up hurting them. Mills was solid, and even captained the club, but his release in May 2015 summed up the financial problems Bolton had encumbered.
n Value for money: 5/10
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wanderers/16240906.It__39_s_one_for_the_money__Wanderers__39__last_12_transfer_fees/
