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The disappointment of the play-offs is still fresh in the mind, but Kyle Dempsey already has high hopes for next season.
Dempsey played in both legs as Ian Evatt’s men came up just short against Barnsley, losing 2-1 on aggregate and missing out on a Wembley showdown against Sheffield Wednesday.
The midfielder was in good form during the second half of the campaign, showing what he is capable of in the final third.
He was instrumental in the memorable 4-0 win against Plymouth in the Papa Johns Trophy final, opening the scoring with a clinical header.
Dempsey is eager to keep heading in the right direction and believes there is no reason why Wanderers cannot target automatic promotion next term.
Speaking on Gills in the Blood Podcast, he said: “I am ambitious and I have got that drive. The squad we have got and the environment the gaffer has built, we have got such a good team and structure.
“I want to get in the top two, that would be the aim for me. If that doesn’t happen, you do want to get in the top six and make a redemption of what happened this year in the play-offs.
“But with how good we are as a team on our day, if we can just have that consistency I think we will be absolutely fine and should have a successful season coming up.”
Dempsey joined Wanderers from Gillingham in January 2022 but had a tough start to life at the UniBol due to injuries.
The 27-year-old is pleased that he has been able to show the Bolton faithful “the real me” over the past season and wants to keep improving.
“For me, the first couple of months were tough because I just could not get fit. I was constantly injured and when I was playing, I was rubbish to be honest,” he added. “I was out of form and my confidence was gone.
“I had pre-season and came back fully fit. My first game of the season, I scored a brace against Wycombe and thought, ‘here we go, I will kick on now’. Since the New Year, it is probably up there with the best I have played in my career.
“Stats wise, I could probably do a bit better. I think I have had six goals and four assists. But as a whole – winning balls, driving with the balls, scoring, assists and the performance at Wembley. People underestimate me because I am small but I am an aerial threat!
“The last four months, the love and support I have had from the Bolton fans has been incredible. Everybody has got to see the real side of me and the support they have given me has been absolutely massive. I am happy to repay them and for them to see the real me.
“At the start, I didn’t really know how big the club was until when I signed. The amount of fans and the interactions on social media – I was probably trying a bit too hard to impress and show everyone how good I am.
“Since the New Year, I decided to take everything off my shoulders and just play the way I know I can. That is what I did and everyone has got to see that.”
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