Was about to post exactly the same. Give them 12-18 months max before they are back in the same position. Hopefully next time they are kicked out for good.
I'm really pleased for the supporters. They will get relegated and rightly so but maybe settle down in league 2 then rebuild .
Even more likely if the EFL grow a pair and finally punish them for not fulfilling games last season and this. Or do they hope everyone will forget about it?
One plus coming out of this is the ineffectiveness of the EFL being put under scrutiny. This not fit for purpose body of whatever they are should be dismantled and a proper body of knowledgeable independent regulators with teeth to punish owners early in any dealings imo.
Absolute joke they have been saved. Should be relegated to national league and made to start again. I guess the football old boys club wins again....
Joke of a club, feel for Bury. What happens with the games they've refused to play? Hopefully the other teams get the 3 points
I'm pleased for the Bolton fans that they have been saved and also for the late Eddie Davies, who loaned them an additional £5 million just before he died, as well as writing of £175 million in debts owed. I'm very sad for the Bury fans, who for the time being have lost their 134 year old club. It is a tragedy, but largely one of the club's own making. I still can't see how Bolton are going to salvage anything of this season. They may be able to sign a few free agents, but I can't see how they can field a team that isn't going to be heavily beaten every week & will the 11 point negative position they are as good as down. In their favour they have managed to play 4 fixtures, which Bury had failed to do. With lower finances, attendances & higher overheads the new owners have some difficult decisions to make & I can't see them being a "big club" any time soon. Even L2 could be a struggle to stay in next season applying FFP rules. It will still be a very hard road for their fans & no doubt a lot of people who are local suppliers will be left with lost livelihoods. I wouldn't be surprised if other clubs are in a similar position in the next year or two. A task force should be set up my all members of the EFL to investigate how this has been allowed to happen & why people like Steve Dale were considered "fit & proper persons". I wouldn't be sad if Bury fans acted within the law to make this guy's life a misery for his callous actions & if he profits in any way from their demise, regarding the ground, or other assets I hope he is looked at my Company's House for the legality of asset stripping the club. A very sad situation & I'm glad we are being run responsibly. Whether we stay up remains to be seen, but we should get behind our young team & show some patience with the players & DS & the coaching staff. I'd love it if we could beat Wigan, who seem to be a club, who as yet don't seem to be heeding the message.
Never mind Bolton being investigated I think someone should also look into how the EFL goes about its business.
I listened to talk sport yesterday and there was an interview with the deputy chair of the EFL, she reminded everyone that they had investigeted the bury chairman and could find "no red flags". What the hell!! What must the "fit and proper " tests be like if any....totally unbelievable...its time the EFL had proper regulation and fines and points deducted for non compliance, in particular, yearly checks on finances, with more point deductions for cooking the books. They need professionals in there to stop this ground buying nonsense too.
The problem with deducting points is that it hurts the players and fans, whereas Steve Dale isn't bothered if a million points get taken off. Letting the likes of Dale through the door in the first place is what needs to be halted. And I don't know how you'd do that. If I want to buy a business and shut it down, I can, and the more distressed it is the easier I get a foot in the door. Preventing the legitimate transfer of a business to an owner who intends to destroy it is probably impossible. And there for the grace of God go Barnsley.
They will give them a points deduction this season when it doesn't matter because they're going down anyway. They should save them for next season in League Two.
Heard a quick snippet from a youngish sounding fellow from some sort of Bolton supporters trust saying that now they could concentrate on getting back to the glory days. These were the days when they were buying and paying players they couldn’t sustainably afford so it appears that no, some may not have learned a lesson at all. Mindst, why should they, there’s no deterrent?
Don’t count your chickens just yet. The deal still has to be ratified by the EFL. They’ll either A: Go through it with the finest of fine-toothed combs for 14 days B: Sit on it for 14 days, do nowt then wave it through with a smile Call me cynical but I know which one my money's on (and it's not A)