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WANDERERS continue to operate with a skeletal crew at their Lostock training ground; no hot water, no access to changing facilities, no honest idea when things will take a turn for the better.
Even though the League One season is appearing fast on the horizon the buzz of excitement is missing as the Whites build up to its first pre-season friendly at York City on Sunday afternoon.
Every aspect of the club remains in stasis, waiting for the command that a takeover has been completed and that vital funds can then be distributed immediately to the places that needs it most.
But even against such a stark and concerning backdrop a couple of Wanderers’ young players have returned to action in the kind of form and shape which bodes well for the future, whatever shape it might take.
Dennis Politic and Ronan Darcy had very different introductions to first team football but both caught the eye when they came back into the Bolton fold over the last fortnight.
Shielded from much of the flak which accompanied relegation and perhaps the full impact of financial problems which weighed heavily on the senior pros’ shoulders, Politic and Darcy have attracted rave reviews for the attitude shown in difficult circumstances.
Now, with Wanderers’ squad as shallow as it gets, the pair could take advantage of the most unusual conditions to stake a claim for first team football when the season gets underway next month.
Politic, the Romania-born winger, will be a familiar sight for those who have ventured out to Leyland in midweek to watch Wanderers’ development squad.
Technically proficient, confident and with an eye for goal, he has stood out as a prospect both for David Lee’s Under-23s and Nicky Spooner’s youth team for some time.
But it was last season’s loan move to Salford City which really put him on the footballing map, and a goal which grabbed headlines up and down the country.
Playing against Dover and with new shareholder David Beckham watching from the stands, Politic produced a precocious lob from the halfway line reminiscent of the Manchester United man in his pomp.
The strike earned him a Goal of the Month trophy for February and with Graham Alexander’s side closing in on a historic first promotion to the EFL the 19-year-old was in line for yet more national exposure.
Unfortunately, a shoulder injury ruled him out of action for the last six weeks of the season, leaving him to return to Bolton and watch Salford win their play-off final without him.
But though Politic’s breakthrough season ended on a low note, Darcy grabbed his first shot at senior football with both hands.
Coming on as a substitute in Wanderers’ last-day defeat to Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, Darcy seemed determined to make the most of his time in the spotlight, demanding the ball at every turn.
Parkinson had called Darcy into first-team training sessions for a good 12 months prior to his appearance in the Championship, where he became only the second millennial to represent the club behind Luca Connell.
Former club captain Darren Pratley also name-checked him in interviews as ample evidence that there was a rich seam of talent just underneath the first team surface.
Those assets have been somewhat mined since financial collapse led to administration and Wanderers were forced to let the likes of Connell leave for pennies to Celtic and leave Harry Brockbank and Joe Muscatt in contract limbo for weeks.
But with both Politic and Darcy signed up to a contract and now seeing an unobstructed route towards the senior set-up, there may yet be some reason for supporters to be optimistic.
Should the takeover remain unconfirmed all the way up to the weekend, Wanderers’ youth teamers will be drafted in at York to supplement the slim spine of professional players and third-year scholars which currently make up the sparsely populated training sessions.
Darcy and Politic have impressed on the training field but might now be asked to add some sunshine to what has been a pretty grim summer at Wanderers.
https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/17759511.bolton-teens-dennis-politic-ronan-darcy-impress-pre-season/
Even though the League One season is appearing fast on the horizon the buzz of excitement is missing as the Whites build up to its first pre-season friendly at York City on Sunday afternoon.
Every aspect of the club remains in stasis, waiting for the command that a takeover has been completed and that vital funds can then be distributed immediately to the places that needs it most.
But even against such a stark and concerning backdrop a couple of Wanderers’ young players have returned to action in the kind of form and shape which bodes well for the future, whatever shape it might take.
Dennis Politic and Ronan Darcy had very different introductions to first team football but both caught the eye when they came back into the Bolton fold over the last fortnight.
Shielded from much of the flak which accompanied relegation and perhaps the full impact of financial problems which weighed heavily on the senior pros’ shoulders, Politic and Darcy have attracted rave reviews for the attitude shown in difficult circumstances.
Now, with Wanderers’ squad as shallow as it gets, the pair could take advantage of the most unusual conditions to stake a claim for first team football when the season gets underway next month.
Politic, the Romania-born winger, will be a familiar sight for those who have ventured out to Leyland in midweek to watch Wanderers’ development squad.
Technically proficient, confident and with an eye for goal, he has stood out as a prospect both for David Lee’s Under-23s and Nicky Spooner’s youth team for some time.
But it was last season’s loan move to Salford City which really put him on the footballing map, and a goal which grabbed headlines up and down the country.
Playing against Dover and with new shareholder David Beckham watching from the stands, Politic produced a precocious lob from the halfway line reminiscent of the Manchester United man in his pomp.
The strike earned him a Goal of the Month trophy for February and with Graham Alexander’s side closing in on a historic first promotion to the EFL the 19-year-old was in line for yet more national exposure.
Unfortunately, a shoulder injury ruled him out of action for the last six weeks of the season, leaving him to return to Bolton and watch Salford win their play-off final without him.
But though Politic’s breakthrough season ended on a low note, Darcy grabbed his first shot at senior football with both hands.
Coming on as a substitute in Wanderers’ last-day defeat to Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, Darcy seemed determined to make the most of his time in the spotlight, demanding the ball at every turn.
Parkinson had called Darcy into first-team training sessions for a good 12 months prior to his appearance in the Championship, where he became only the second millennial to represent the club behind Luca Connell.
Former club captain Darren Pratley also name-checked him in interviews as ample evidence that there was a rich seam of talent just underneath the first team surface.
Those assets have been somewhat mined since financial collapse led to administration and Wanderers were forced to let the likes of Connell leave for pennies to Celtic and leave Harry Brockbank and Joe Muscatt in contract limbo for weeks.
But with both Politic and Darcy signed up to a contract and now seeing an unobstructed route towards the senior set-up, there may yet be some reason for supporters to be optimistic.
Should the takeover remain unconfirmed all the way up to the weekend, Wanderers’ youth teamers will be drafted in at York to supplement the slim spine of professional players and third-year scholars which currently make up the sparsely populated training sessions.
Darcy and Politic have impressed on the training field but might now be asked to add some sunshine to what has been a pretty grim summer at Wanderers.
https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/17759511.bolton-teens-dennis-politic-ronan-darcy-impress-pre-season/
