From the Bolton Evening News, first published Friday 1st Dec 1995.
TIME ran out for Wanderers today in the race to sign Scott Sellars before the High Noon transfer deadline.
But talks will continue over the weekend in the hope of finalising a deal that will bring the Newcastle midfield ace to Burnden early next week.
Wanderers had hoped to have the ?750,000 transfer completed in time to play Sellars in tomorrow's home game against Nottingham Forest.
But once they'd been beaten by the clock they immediately concentrated on making the necessary adjustments to compensate for the loss of current captain Mark Patterson, who serves a one-match suspension.
It means a recall for Fabian de Freitas - his first start for more than two months - with Alan Thompson reverting to a midfield role after three games as John McGinlay's strike partner. With de Freitas making up the maximum contingent of foreigners, there is no place in the squad for Richard Sneekes. McFarland was resigned to being without Sellars this morning and said: "Time was always against us. But he is interested in coming to Bolton and we will be having further discussions.
"The important thing now is to concentrate on tomorrow's match in which we desperately need a good performance and a good result.
"There's no question we owe our supporters something after the West Ham game. We need to earn their applause."
The 3-0 home defeat a fortnight ago plumbed the depths of an already disappointing season but style changes since have led to improved displays at Chelsea and Southampton in the Premiership - albeit without a point - and at Norwich in the Coca-Cola Cup.
But McFarland won't be happy until his players redeem themselves in the eyes of their home fans. He added: "Although we've taken a lot of comfort from the three away performances, the majority of our supporters haven't seen the games. It's vital to our survival hopes that we do well at home."
Forest boss Frank Clark, already without the suspended Steve Chettle, has had his selection plans hampered by a flu big which has swept through the club.
Midfielder Chris Bart-Williams is the major doubt while striker Jason Lee has a thigh strain and faces a late fitness test.
Wanderers: Branagan, Green, Phillips, Curcic, Bergsson, Fairclough, Taggart, Todd, Thompson, McGinlay, de Freitas. Subs to be named.
http://archive.theboltonnews.co.uk/1995/12/1/863010.html
Sellars on hold
From the Bolton Evening News, first published Friday 1st Dec 1995.
TIME ran out for Wanderers today in the race to sign Scott Sellars before the High Noon transfer deadline.
But talks will continue over the weekend in the hope of finalising a deal that will bring the Newcastle midfield ace to Burnden early next week.
Wanderers had hoped to have the ?750,000 transfer completed in time to play Sellars in tomorrow's home game against Nottingham Forest.
But once they'd been beaten by the clock they immediately concentrated on making the necessary adjustments to compensate for the loss of current captain Mark Patterson, who serves a one-match suspension.
It means a recall for Fabian de Freitas - his first start for more than two months - with Alan Thompson reverting to a midfield role after three games as John McGinlay's strike partner. With de Freitas making up the maximum contingent of foreigners, there is no place in the squad for Richard Sneekes. McFarland was resigned to being without Sellars this morning and said: "Time was always against us. But he is interested in coming to Bolton and we will be having further discussions.
"The important thing now is to concentrate on tomorrow's match in which we desperately need a good performance and a good result.
"There's no question we owe our supporters something after the West Ham game. We need to earn their applause."
The 3-0 home defeat a fortnight ago plumbed the depths of an already disappointing season but style changes since have led to improved displays at Chelsea and Southampton in the Premiership - albeit without a point - and at Norwich in the Coca-Cola Cup.
But McFarland won't be happy until his players redeem themselves in the eyes of their home fans. He added: "Although we've taken a lot of comfort from the three away performances, the majority of our supporters haven't seen the games. It's vital to our survival hopes that we do well at home."
Forest boss Frank Clark, already without the suspended Steve Chettle, has had his selection plans hampered by a flu big which has swept through the club.
Midfielder Chris Bart-Williams is the major doubt while striker Jason Lee has a thigh strain and faces a late fitness test.
Wanderers: Branagan, Green, Phillips, Curcic, Bergsson, Fairclough, Taggart, Todd, Thompson, McGinlay, de Freitas. Subs to be named.
Forest (from) Crossley, Lyttle, Pearce, Cooper, Haaland, Stone, Bart-Williams, Gemmill, McGregor, Silenzi, Woan, Howe, Phillips, Lee, Warner, Rigby.
on second thoughs, maybe i shouldve checked the date