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Next season should start to take shape for Wanderers this week, with key decisions expected on the restart date, and potentially the introduction of salary caps in League One and League Two.
Clubs will meet this week to vote on when the 2020/21 campaign will begin, and then discuss further the introduction of spending restrictions designed to safeguard clubs after the pandemic.
Though the restart debate has been boiled down to two clear options, the issue of salary capping is infinitely more complex and faces stiff opposition from the PFA, among others. In what has been an uncertain financial time for clubs, however, there appears to be enough support at ground level for the plans to be voted through.
Here, we look at some of the key questions to be decided across the league and at Wanderers in the next week.
WHEN WILL THE SEASON RESTART?
Clubs will have two options to vote on: Saturday, August 29 or Monday, September 12.
An international break falls between the two dates and it is considered unsuitable to start the season unless all EFL clubs can do so.
If the season begins in September there could potentially be 11 midweek games crammed into the list.
WHEN WILL THE SEASON END?
In the August scenario, and end date of May 9 has been pencilled in for clubs. In the September scenario the campaign will run until May 22.
The rescheduled Euro 2020 competition will run between June 11 and July 11 next year.
WHEN WILL FANS BE ALLOWED IN?
This has been the great unknown as clubs discussed the restart date – but there is strong optimism that the season can begin with at least some fans allowed through the turnstiles.
Provided the progress on coronavirus continues, it is expected between 20 and 40 per cent of a ground’s capacity could be used, although it currently looks unlikely that away fans will be allowed to travel in the early stages.
Wanderers’ stadium is perfectly designed to allow fans safe access and was on a shortlist, alongside Stadium MK in Milton Keynes, to stage Premier League games as a neutral venue, if necessary.
WHEN WILL WANDERERS PUT SEASON TICKETS ON SALE?
Unless there are any unforeseen problems, an announcement on next season’s start date is expected within a few days of the EFL vote.
Wanderers are likely to tackle the issue of refunds on last year’s season tickets before the push on with plans for 2020/21 but have been working on a number of different scenarios, including limited capacity at the UniBol.
HOW WILL SALARY CAPS WORK?
The EFL is proposing to introduce a flat cap - £2.5m per club in League One, £1.5m in League Two, and an as-yet undetermined figure in the Championship - covering the total wages and bonuses paid to all players over the age of 21, which will take effect next season. It is also expected that some leeway will be given to existing contracts.
HOW CLOSE ARE BOLTON TO THE CAP?
Currently, Wanderers have 13 professional players signed on for next season but, crucially, seven DO NOT count against the cap as they are under the age of 21. Depending on the cut-off point, Harry Brockbank (born in June) may also be exempt.
Under the current proposed guidelines, Adam Senior, George Thomasson, Sonny Graham, Callum King-Harmes, Dennis Politic, Matt Alexander and Ronan Darcy would not count towards the £1.5m but the salaries of Eoin Doyle, Ali Crawford, Ryan Delaney, Liam Edwards and Muhammadu Faal would be counted.
Source
Clubs will meet this week to vote on when the 2020/21 campaign will begin, and then discuss further the introduction of spending restrictions designed to safeguard clubs after the pandemic.
Though the restart debate has been boiled down to two clear options, the issue of salary capping is infinitely more complex and faces stiff opposition from the PFA, among others. In what has been an uncertain financial time for clubs, however, there appears to be enough support at ground level for the plans to be voted through.
Here, we look at some of the key questions to be decided across the league and at Wanderers in the next week.
WHEN WILL THE SEASON RESTART?
Clubs will have two options to vote on: Saturday, August 29 or Monday, September 12.
An international break falls between the two dates and it is considered unsuitable to start the season unless all EFL clubs can do so.
If the season begins in September there could potentially be 11 midweek games crammed into the list.
WHEN WILL THE SEASON END?
In the August scenario, and end date of May 9 has been pencilled in for clubs. In the September scenario the campaign will run until May 22.
The rescheduled Euro 2020 competition will run between June 11 and July 11 next year.
WHEN WILL FANS BE ALLOWED IN?
This has been the great unknown as clubs discussed the restart date – but there is strong optimism that the season can begin with at least some fans allowed through the turnstiles.
Provided the progress on coronavirus continues, it is expected between 20 and 40 per cent of a ground’s capacity could be used, although it currently looks unlikely that away fans will be allowed to travel in the early stages.
Wanderers’ stadium is perfectly designed to allow fans safe access and was on a shortlist, alongside Stadium MK in Milton Keynes, to stage Premier League games as a neutral venue, if necessary.
WHEN WILL WANDERERS PUT SEASON TICKETS ON SALE?
Unless there are any unforeseen problems, an announcement on next season’s start date is expected within a few days of the EFL vote.
Wanderers are likely to tackle the issue of refunds on last year’s season tickets before the push on with plans for 2020/21 but have been working on a number of different scenarios, including limited capacity at the UniBol.
HOW WILL SALARY CAPS WORK?
The EFL is proposing to introduce a flat cap - £2.5m per club in League One, £1.5m in League Two, and an as-yet undetermined figure in the Championship - covering the total wages and bonuses paid to all players over the age of 21, which will take effect next season. It is also expected that some leeway will be given to existing contracts.
HOW CLOSE ARE BOLTON TO THE CAP?
Currently, Wanderers have 13 professional players signed on for next season but, crucially, seven DO NOT count against the cap as they are under the age of 21. Depending on the cut-off point, Harry Brockbank (born in June) may also be exempt.
Under the current proposed guidelines, Adam Senior, George Thomasson, Sonny Graham, Callum King-Harmes, Dennis Politic, Matt Alexander and Ronan Darcy would not count towards the £1.5m but the salaries of Eoin Doyle, Ali Crawford, Ryan Delaney, Liam Edwards and Muhammadu Faal would be counted.
Source
