1 minute ago, BeeversLeftPeg said:

Having the budget is one thing. Convincing ALL the players that you think will make you competitive in the league above to join us and them accepting is far more trickier.

I’m not disputing the difficulty but that’s why we employ quality people like Fergal to negotiate. It seems the board may have underestimated the finances needed and the possible misapprehension that players would come because we’re Bolton. Well in this league we’re not the attraction we were lower down. Either way if we’ve found we have to lower our sights a bit then do it because at least then we make a fight of it. Just get the best you can afford but to start the season in the state we’re in is to me unacceptable for a club of our stature.

1 hour ago, Whitesince63 said:

If it’s true about Ruben missing then I really fear for us on Saturday. For all we’ve assumed Preston will be one of the weaker teams this season they’re still miles ahead of us and if we couldn’t score against a very poor Wednesday team on Saturday we’ve little to no chance against an established Championship ready Nob End this weekend. Sorry but I’m absolutely disgusted with management who knew after Wembley this team wasn’t up to it yet assured it would be by now. Since there seems little sign of any movement before Saturday I genuinely fear for us because if Preston take an early lead our already fragile confidence could I fear lead to a pasting. Trying to be realistic here not negative but I’m seriously worried for us.

Tbf mate, in his interview soon after Wembley, Fergal did state us fans would need to be patient and expected us to get our main targets late in the window.

It is frustrating I agree, but I'm sure they've been trying.

Long season, keep the faith 🙏

2 minutes ago, Greg_BWFC said:

Tbf mate, in his interview soon after Wembley, Fergal did state us fans would need to be patient and expected us to get our main targets late in the window.

It is frustrating I agree, but I'm sure they've been trying.

Long season, keep the faith 🙏

All true but I’m sure even Fergal would have expected to have some in by now if not everyone.

Just now, Whitesince63 said:

All true but I’m sure even Fergal would have expected to have some in by now if not everyone.

we've signed 6 so far

Watson, Stephenson, Davies, Famewo, Larrazabal and Dong

10 hours ago, Underpants said:

If you want cheap season tickets then big away followings pay top price. It's that simple. Stop being so bloody righteous.

Btw, I'll take a draw.

And home fans that don't have a S/T - more in that category that we probably realise, that can only do half a dozen games a season.

I agree though the cheap S/Ts have to be subsidised realistically.

36 minutes ago, Zico said:

we've signed 6 so far

Watson, Stephenson, Davies, Famewo, Larrazabal and Dong

I think you’re proving my point. How many of those get into any other Championship starting 11 and how many goals will they get between them? Stop being pedantic, you know exactly what I mean going into a new season in the Championship without a recognised forward other than Dalby. Excuses won’t get goals so I’m just accepting the reality of where we are. It may change, I hope it does but as it stands we’re nowhere near where we need to be and God help us if we get any injuries.

37 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

And home fans that don't have a S/T - more in that category that we probably realise, that can only do half a dozen games a season.

I agree though the cheap S/Ts have to be subsidised realistically.

TBF I think the away prices match the expensive seats for the home fans. There's tickets in the 'cheap seats' in the NSL available for home support

3 minutes ago, frank_spencer said:

TBF I think the away prices match the expensive seats for the home fans. There's tickets in the 'cheap seats' in the NSL available for home support

Turns out I'm a liar and prices are the same everywhere.

1 minute ago, frank_spencer said:

TBF I think the away prices match the expensive seats for the home fans. There's tickets in the 'cheap seats' in the NSL available for home support

That's true but most don't want to sit behind the goal. We have 6 stands available to us (3 lower, 3 higher) and 5 are top prices, same as top tier for away fans. They do normally get about 2k at same price as NSL although we are yet to find out where they will be seated this year if they only bring 2k - we'll find out v Lincoln.

21 minutes ago, Whitesince63 said:

I think you’re proving my point. How many of those get into any other Championship starting 11 and how many goals will they get between them? Stop being pedantic, you know exactly what I mean going into a new season in the Championship without a recognised forward other than Dalby. Excuses won’t get goals so I’m just accepting the reality of where we are. It may change, I hope it does but as it stands we’re nowhere near where we need to be and God help us if we get any injuries.

Signing 6 sounds great in theory and like there's been a big influx. But we're just replacing the 11 players that we've lost: Dempsey, GJ, Cissoko, Burstow, ACD, Taylor, Tutu, Apter, Forss, CBT and effectively Randall. There are some duffers in there but certainly a few we haven't replaced yet, or the jury is out on whether we've got an upgrade.

3 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

Signing 6 sounds great in theory and like there's been a big influx. But we're just replacing the 11 players that we've lost: Dempsey, GJ, Cissoko, Burstow, ACD, Taylor, Tutu, Apter, Forss, CBT and effectively Randall. There are some duffers in there but certainly a few we haven't replaced yet, or the jury is out on whether we've got an upgrade.

4 of the six we have signed look ok but not sure about Dong and Watson. The quality we have lost will bite us if we don’t get some good signings in soon

On 30/06/2026 at 13:37, W.cramp said:

Wareham comes with baggage- his dad. I have read exeterways previously and there was always chirps about the problems his dad causes due to his love of the limelight and social media.

15 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

Signing 6 sounds great in theory and like there's been a big influx. But we're just replacing the 11 players that we've lost: Dempsey, GJ, Cissoko, Burstow, ACD, Taylor, Tutu, Apter, Forss, CBT and effectively Randall. There are some duffers in there but certainly a few we haven't replaced yet, or the jury is out on whether we've got an upgrade.

Taylor, Apter, Forss and CBT for different reason contributed very little. We have not yet signed enough players in terms of numbers and quality. Everyone knows that. In the interview below Harkin said we would get 4 or 5 in for pre season , we got 6, one of those already sorted at time of interview so call it 5.

He also says that due to WC and the window lasting 3 months it will be a lot of activity late in the window. And it is not till the window is closed that they can be judged. Idiots (Not you btw- replied to you as you usually have a balanced view ) claiming that have not tried hard enough or offered enough money are just being fannies.

If at end of last season we have decided to take the easy option and kept Burstow on would there be room in squad for Dean and maybe Kenny ? ACD played in preseason for Brighton but is he likely to start next season or even make bench ? How long do we wait to find out ?

Not sure Ryan Hardie excites me

But one thing that is obvious is that the transfer window should close before start of the season , teams signing so many players after start is a farce.

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/26157269.bolton-wanderers-chief-harkin-outlines-summer-transfer-plan/

I believe we passed on Hardie last season. As said above, it doesn’t excite me, but its numbers at least.

Hopefully he’s fit and ready to go

1 hour ago, Whitesince63 said:

I think you’re proving my point. How many of those get into any other Championship starting 11 and how many goals will they get between them? Stop being pedantic, you know exactly what I mean going into a new season in the Championship without a recognised forward other than Dalby. Excuses won’t get goals so I’m just accepting the reality of where we are. It may change, I hope it does but as it stands we’re nowhere near where we need to be and God help us if we get any injuries.

4 of them haven't played in the Championship/England so I don't know how good they are at this level

I'm not being pedantic, I thought you were saying we haven't signed any of our main targets, but it seems you meant another forward

and since you posted that we've signed Hardie which takes us to 7 new players, who I presume the management team think are an upgrade on the team that got promoted

so I'm not sure I'm proving your point

3 hours ago, Whitesince63 said:

Sorry but I’m absolutely disgusted with management

Christ on a bike

3 hours ago, Whitesince63 said:

If it’s true about Ruben missing then I really fear for us on Saturday. For all we’ve assumed Preston will be one of the weaker teams this season they’re still miles ahead of us and if we couldn’t score against a very poor Wednesday team on Saturday we’ve little to no chance against an established Championship ready Nob End this weekend. Sorry but I’m absolutely disgusted with management who knew after Wembley this team wasn’t up to it yet assured it would be by now. Since there seems little sign of any movement before Saturday I genuinely fear for us because if Preston take an early lead our already fragile confidence could I fear lead to a pasting. Trying to be realistic here not negative but I’m seriously worried for us.

RR is more guilty than anybody for not being able to stick easy chances in the net to be fair

1 hour ago, Whitesince63 said:

I think you’re proving my point. How many of those get into any other Championship starting 11 and how many goals will they get between them? Stop being pedantic, you know exactly what I mean going into a new season in the Championship without a recognised forward other than Dalby. Excuses won’t get goals so I’m just accepting the reality of where we are. It may change, I hope it does but as it stands we’re nowhere near where we need to be and God help us if we get any injuries.

And yet you wanted us to sign Sam Nombe with a grand sum of three goals in the championship

Apparently less than 350 tickets left for this game minus whatever segregation is used . Not sure itll break the record.

13 minutes ago, Krimzon said:

Apparently less than 350 tickets left for this game minus whatever segregation is used . Not sure itll break the record.

Think there's about 800 lost in segregation of the away end as they've only given them 4400 and pretty sure the full away end is 5200.

Then there's the slightly obstructed view ones above the gangways that they only make available at last resort.

Surely that'll get us to 27k though...

I hope we pick Stephenson in midfield for this given the lack of Erhahon and Simons. Larra or Christie would have to be at RB - but I just think we need that extra solidity about us in the middle of the park and Stephenson has played there a fair bit even though SS primarily sees him as a right back. Be surprised if this is not under consideration.

1 hour ago, Zico said:

4 of them haven't played in the Championship/England so I don't know how good they are at this level

I'm not being pedantic, I thought you were saying we haven't signed any of our main targets, but it seems you meant another forward

and since you posted that we've signed Hardie which takes us to 7 new players, who I presume the management team think are an upgrade on the team that got promoted

so I'm not sure I'm proving your point

he won't be happy til we sign fcuking nombe

20 minutes ago, Casino said:

he won't be happy.

1 hour ago, Casino said:

he won't be happy til we sign fcuking nombe

he'll be waiting a while. McDons bought him

15 hours ago, Alf Hartigan said:

I really hope this isn't the case, we're looking a good bet for relegation as it stands. I really want to be posting like a Desperado or the likes, rather than a Masi or the likes. I'm veering to the latter tbh.

Hopefully Saturday will sort it out, sounds like a great crowd is on the cards. COYWM. Already getting a bit excited about it 😃

I'm going to adopt L/H Whites approach and go for 0-1🙁

Just say it how it is mate. That's all do