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He’s only been in the job since October 2012 but Dougie Freedman is already one of the Championship’s longest-serving managers.
There were plenty of Wanderers fans hoping the articulate Scot would become another statistic last season, especially after a 7-1 hiding at Reading.
But Freedman rode out the storm and is now in a stronger position than ever to finally mould a side in his own image.
He kicks-off a new campaign with a squad shorn of big-money wage-earners but with key players already indoctrinated into the Freedman philosophy.
That’s why within the first few weeks of last season finishing Wanderers had already confirmed the permanent arrivals of Liam Trotter, Neil Danns and Andy Robinson plus the return of fans favourite Liam Feeney.
All four enjoyed loan spells at the Reebok during 2013/14 and such continuity of personnel is vital if Bolton are to mount a sustainable challenge to regain their Premier League status lost at Stoke on the final day of the 2011/12 season.
Wanderers relied too heavily on loan players last season – a fact Freedman is well aware of.
The likes of Kevin McNaughton and Joe Mason made favourable impressions then disappeared back to Cardiff.
So too Lukas Jutkiewicz whose goals ensured mid table stability in the end after Wanderers flirted with relegation in the second half of the season.
Jutkiewicz is now back at Middlesbrough facing an uncertain future. Having bought winger Feeney, Freedman needs a reliable target man to partner Jermaine Beckford and is looking at various options.
Former England Under-21 international, Marvin Sordell, has returned from his loan at Charlton and could be one possibility.
More likely, Freedman will use a limited budget to resign Jutkiewicz from Middlesbrough for around £1million or look overseas.
The top two is out of reach for Wanderers next season – the top six is an outside possibility.
Source
There were plenty of Wanderers fans hoping the articulate Scot would become another statistic last season, especially after a 7-1 hiding at Reading.
But Freedman rode out the storm and is now in a stronger position than ever to finally mould a side in his own image.
He kicks-off a new campaign with a squad shorn of big-money wage-earners but with key players already indoctrinated into the Freedman philosophy.
That’s why within the first few weeks of last season finishing Wanderers had already confirmed the permanent arrivals of Liam Trotter, Neil Danns and Andy Robinson plus the return of fans favourite Liam Feeney.
All four enjoyed loan spells at the Reebok during 2013/14 and such continuity of personnel is vital if Bolton are to mount a sustainable challenge to regain their Premier League status lost at Stoke on the final day of the 2011/12 season.
Wanderers relied too heavily on loan players last season – a fact Freedman is well aware of.
The likes of Kevin McNaughton and Joe Mason made favourable impressions then disappeared back to Cardiff.
So too Lukas Jutkiewicz whose goals ensured mid table stability in the end after Wanderers flirted with relegation in the second half of the season.
Jutkiewicz is now back at Middlesbrough facing an uncertain future. Having bought winger Feeney, Freedman needs a reliable target man to partner Jermaine Beckford and is looking at various options.
Former England Under-21 international, Marvin Sordell, has returned from his loan at Charlton and could be one possibility.
More likely, Freedman will use a limited budget to resign Jutkiewicz from Middlesbrough for around £1million or look overseas.
The top two is out of reach for Wanderers next season – the top six is an outside possibility.
Source
