Lion Of Vienna Suite

Sam Ricketts and Kevin Davies Extend Bolton Wanderers Contracts

2012-05-18T16:30:57Z

We got the bad news out of the way early today as the club announced the players that were definitely on their way out. As the exits have been tallied, it is now time for the club to start the rebuilding process. They've done this by extending the contracts of two fan favorites who will lead the charge back to the Premier League for Bolton Wanderers.

We reported last week that Super Kevin Davies had signed a new contract with Bolton and now it's been officially confirmed. Kevin Davies will be with Bolton Wanderers for at least one more year while versatile defender Samuel Ricketts has re-upped for two.

Bolton will rebuild on the backs of these two players as well as the rest of the young talent that they retained. Between the injuries, the two players had a part in a total 62 matches in all competitions combined. We expect that they'll do a hell of a job in the Championship as Bolton aim to win and be promoted without the question of playoffs.

All Signs Point To Adidas Kit Switch For Bolton Wanderers

2012-05-18T12:00:46Z

A month ago we presented why a move away from Reebok and to Adidas for Bolton Wanderers' kits seemed more than likely and new clues today suggest that the move is now all but confirmed. Other teams that wore Reebok like Internacional and RC Lens jumped ship last year while key players like Thierry Henry and Iker Casillas now have new gear from other manufacturers.

It looks like Bolton Wanderers are finally about to do the same.

A cryptic clue from a source simply said "red stripes." A number of Bolton fans immediately speculated that it had something to do with the new kit and a further few thought that it meant Celtic or United States Men's National Team style hoops. Given the earlier rumors regarding Adidas, I ventured a guess at three red stripes running down the shoulder.

A couple more sources came forward claiming to have information on the new shirt, saying that it would look a lot like the new Middlesbrough kit (below) with the colors reversed.

If true, Bolton fans can expect a clean, classy, mostly white kit. Something that Reebok have failed to really do for years. There are a few things to consider though:

Bolton have done 188Bet's logo two different ways depending on the kit color. They've either gone with the full orange/white logo on a white shirt or an all white logo for the away shirt. If this is the template and the colors are indeed reversed, the middle strip on the kit would be red and that wouldn't work well.
Bolton kits traditionally have blue in them, more navy than royal, and this template doesn't allow for it if the colors are simply reversed.

Bolton's team equipment has been manufactured by Reebok since the 1993-94 season when the local company took the duty over from Matchwinner who got it after Umbro who took it from Admiral. As part of the technical sponsorship, the Reebok logo had been the chest of Bolton players from 1993 all the way until 2009 when the club signed a shirt deal with 188Bet.

In 2005, Reebok was purchased by the Adidas group for a cool $3.8 billion. After the sale happened, the club said that kids would not be affected by the merger at all. At the moment, Bolton's kit and stadium deals run to 2016. Ever since the purchase by Adidas, Reebok's profile in football (soccer) has slowly but surely decreased. Where once they had multiple teams in the Football League (Bolton, Manchester City, and West Ham), the Wanderers are the only ones that remain.

Reebok also sponsored the likes of Iker Casillas, Thierry Henry, and Ryan Giggs where now it's only the Welshman in Reebok boots. Casillas signed on with Adidas last year and Thierry Henry is sporting Puma at Red Bull NY.

Bolton are the only team in England that have Reebok equipment. If the team switched to Adidas next year, would anyone complain?

Of course, this is still far from official and even though the players have seen the new strip, we haven't. As soon as more details emerge, the club teases the kits, or something official is announced, we will definitely let you know.

Bolton's Retained List: 15 Player Exodus

2012-05-18T11:00:21Z

We've been waiting all week for this day. Bolton Wanderers have released the retained list, which should probably be called the Players Leaving List, and now we have a better idea of the squad, the holes that Owen Coyle will have to fill, and what the club has to work with going into the Championship. The list contains a lot of youth players who never made an impact on the team that much, and some older players who probably were on their way out anyway. But there are also some real losses in there, but sentimentally and purely football wise. Without further ado...

Players out of contract (11):

Gretar Steinsson
Paul Robinson
Sean Davis
Robbie Blake
Ricardo Gardner
Ivan Klasnic
Mark Connolly
Tope Obadeyi
Rhys Bennet
Dino Fazlic
Tom Eckersley

Players Returning to Parent Club (3):

Players On Release Clause (1):

Nigel Reo-Coker

That's a lot to take in. Losing 15 players in one fell swoop would be a blow for any club. This coming season would have been a good opportunity to give some of the youth a chance, but it is understandable that they would want to leave. By my count 5 of the 15 were youth players who had yet to make a proper impact on the squad, and it would be a push to consider them a real loss. Another 6 are players who were either perennially injured, getting on in years, or in poor Bibi Gardner's case, both, and therefore probably a smart offload. Of the remaining 4, 2 were loanees and always going to leave.

That leaves Ivan Klasnic and Nigel Reo-Coker as the only 2 real losses this season. Klasnic, as we wrote when he announced his departure on his official website, the loss of his goals will be keenly felt, but after 3 years, this may be a good time to say goodbye. As for Reo-Coker, he really stepped up in the midfield, something desperately needed in the absence of Stuart Holden. He by no means had a perfect season, but with the possible exception of Adam Bogdan, no Bolton player can boast that.

Coyle said on the subject:

"I was clear with Nigel. I asked him straight away whether he wanted to stay and be a part of what we are going to do next season. He was honest and up front with us, because that is the type of man he is, and said that he wanted to exercise the clause in his contract, and so we wish him well."

He also said on the exodus in general:

"I would also like to thank the players that are leaving the club for their work at Bolton Wanderers. We wish them all well.

"One of those is Ricardo Gardner, who has been with the football club for 14 years. He has offered incredible service to Bolton Wanderers and I'd like to personally thank him for all of his efforts, particularly during the time I have worked with him."

Bibi is probably the player that I personally am most sad about saying goodbye to. Other than Kevin Davies and Jussi Jaaskelainen, he was the last player left of the Bolton generation I originally fell in love with when I began following football. Seeing his dreadlocks fly down the pitch at the Reebok is one of my earliest footballing memories, and out of sentimentality I will miss him dearly. He has served the club well for 14 years, and if anyone deserves a testimonial, Bibi does.

Best of luck to Bibi and all of the Wanderers we lost today.

Poll

Who will you miss the most?

This Is Who We Know Is Gone So Far

2012-05-17T14:30:18Z

Bolton News reporter Marc Iles tends not to write something unless he's certain and as a result, has become a good source of Bolton Wanderers news. In a reply he tweeted today, this is the list of players that we know have left Bolton Wanderers so far (not including reserve youngsters).

Apart from Nigel Reo-Coker and arguably Ivan Klasnic & Jussi Jaaskelainen, a lot of those players we can honestly say we won't really miss. Ricardo Gardner was a great servant to the club but unfortunately injury issues and age caught up with him.

Transfer Rumor: Bolton On Verge of First Signings

2012-05-17T12:30:14Z

There are suggestions swirling this morning that Bolton Wanderers close to adding a new player to their ranks in the form of U2 bassist -- er, I'm sorry, Leeds United midfielder Adam Clayton. There is nothing anywhere near official on this yet but it's interesting given how Bolton Wanderers have been actively looking to cut the wage bill by as much as half.

Owen Coyle had scouted Clayton back in January when Leeds took on the Arsenal in the FA Cup.

The 5 foot 9 inch tall midfielder made 43 appearances in the Championship last season with 42 of those being starts. In that time, he scored six goals and assisted five more. The midfielder is only 23 years old and the rumor is that his wage demands are anywhere between £9,000 and £15,000 a week. Both numbers, while in the fairly high range, would still likely provide a cost savings to Bolton Wanderers after all of the current roster cuts are complete.

Anyway, here's the obligatory YouTube highlight video.

Bye Bye Baby? Gretar Steinnson leaves Bolton (Probably)

2012-05-17T11:33:11Z

The trouble with recovery from relegation is usually exacerbated by the rumour mill. Some players are definitely gone (Ivan Klasnic among them). Some players are definitely staying (Samuel Ricketts has placed his marker down). But many players (usually the relegated club's best players) live in the ether for weeks, if not months. Neither here nor gone, they leave uncertainty and doubt in the minds of the manager and the supporters. Gretar Steinsson appears to be falling into this vortex.

The Icelandic international has been a solid player for Bolton Wanderers. He has had spectacular moments, as well as a few mishaps he'd rather forget. His massive wages (Funny how Gary Megson claimed he had cut the wage bill) and now-finished contract always made him a strong candidate to depart. The club have offered him a new deal, at reduced wages, which he appears likely to reject, though he has apparently not done so just yet. I always rated him, but his inconsistency under Coyle has seem him fall just short of claiming the right back shirt on a permanent basis. Bolton have three other right backs under contract, so we can afford to let him go, and wish him the best of luck.

Adam Blakeman Handed One Year Contract

2012-05-16T13:10:18Z

With all of the talk around Bolton Wanderers cutting players, it's good to see that Owen Coyle's youth policy is still in full swing and is giving talented youngsters a chance to prove themselves. Adam Blakeman hasn't made much of an impression on the first team outside for a brief Carling Cup appearance. Blakeman was brought on as a substitute in Bolton's 2-1 win against Macclesfield early in the season. He was also named to the bench but unused in Bolton 2-3 loss to Manchester City early in the season.

The news was broken by another Bolton Wanderers youngster on Twitter. We will be bringing you team news if and when it all happens but we expect the club's full Retained Player list early this week.

Bolton Set To Slash Wage Bill

2012-05-16T13:01:40Z

Relegation is a big loss not only to the fans but to the club as well when speaking financially. The drop alone means a £25 million loss from TV revenue alone. Then you have the loss that comes from reduced gate turnover as we can most definitely expect lower attendance numbers in the Championship. As a result, Bolton will be forced to cut their wage bill down, by a lot.

In the fiscal year of 2011, Bolton's wage bill was an astronomical £56 million. Sure that doesn't compare to the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, and Manchester City etcetera, but for a club in Bolton's position (who make only about £60 million from football), that's a hell of a lot. Bolton will get rid of players as they already have done in the cases of Mark Connolly and Ivan Klasnic with a number of others set to go.

Bolton have the likes of Sean Davis, Robbie Blake, Ricardo Gardner, Zat Knight, Gretar Steinsson, Paul Robinson and others on their books. Many of these players were brought in under Gary Megson with very high contracts promised to them for very average performances.

Speaking to the BBC, Bolton Wanderers Chairman Phil Gartside said:

"If you look at our wage bill this year compared to what it was last year, allowing for a couple of people to come in, it will be up to 50% of what we paid out last year,

"That flexibility is essential when you are going to lose £25m of revenue. You've got to dust yourself off and get on with life. It's not the end of the world - we've got a plan and we'll implement that plan.

"This was always going to be a year when we restructured the club. Owen put a plan together 18 months ago that he wanted to reduce the age of the squad because he felt there were some older players in the squad that were going to come to the end of what were great careers, and he wanted to put something in place that was sustainable.

"We've had an academy for over 10 years and we never produced a boy from the local area from the age of seven that came through to the first team, and that has changed this year.

"We have got two boys who have made their debuts in Joe Riley and Josh Vela, both exciting players capable of playing first-team football, and we have got five or six other boys in the academy who are just as good, who are on the fringe of breaking in. That is a great achievement."

The Guardian