2019–20 Bolton Wanderers F.C. season

Throughout the 2018–19 Championship season Bolton faced financial difficulties. After the collapse of the permanent signing of on-loan striker Christian Doidge, Forest Green Rovers commenced legal action over lost earnings.[3] In February 2019, Bolton were issued a winding-up petition by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) which was subsequently adjourned, first until April, and then again until the end of the season as their search for a new owner continued.[4][5] Due to the financial difficulties, the training ground temporarily closed in March 2019,[6] and games against Ipswich, Middlesbrough and Aston Villa were threatened with postponement or being played behind closed doors as the local council Safety Advisory Group (SAG) threatened to revoke the stadium safety certificate.[7] The Bolton Whites Hotel, owned by Ken Anderson, was also issued with a winding-up petition in March 2019[8] (it closed on 1 May and went into administration on 14 May).[9] The team was relegated to League One in April after a 23rd-place finish.[10] In a further development on 26 April, the home match against Brentford was called off by the English Football League 16 hours before kick off after Bolton's players, supported by the Professional Footballers' Association, refused to play until they had received their unpaid wages.[11] On 3 May the match against Brentford was cancelled by the EFL and a 1-0 result and three points awarded to Brentford.[12]

In May the club went into administration due to a £1.2m unpaid tax bill.[13] Fildraw (former owner Eddie Davies' trust fund) appointed administrators from insolvency firm David Rubin and Partners.[14] In accordance with league rules on administration, Bolton would start the 2019–20 season with a 12-point deduction.[14] On 14 May it was reported that some non-playing staff were forced to use food bank donations from local businesses and a local Championship club, believed to be Preston North End,[15] as Bolton had not paid them for April's work.[16] A 17 July statement from the Bolton players said that no-one at the club had been paid by owner Ken Anderson for 20 weeks, the training ground had no potable drinking water nor hot water for showers. Pre-season friendlies with Chester,[17] Preston[18] and Oldham Athletic were all cancelled as Bolton could not give assurances about fielding a competitive team.[19]

On 18 July, Anderson said the sale of Bolton would be completed by the end of the week,[20] but the uncertainty continued into August. Bolton started their opening League One game on 3 August at Wycombe Wanderers with only three contracted senior outfield players, and lost 2–0.[21] The following week, on 8 August, Bolton's takeover by Football Ventures was suspended after Laurence Bassini, who had previously tried to buy the club, won a court order blocking the sale;[22] the sale of the Bolton Whites hotel was also delayed by a dispute.[23] On 10 August, Bolton fielded its youngest ever side, with an average age of 19, in a goalless home draw against Coventry City,[24] but then conceded five goals in both of the next two games, against Rochdale in the EFL Cup (5-2)[25] and Tranmere Rovers in League One (5-0).[26] Manager Phil Parkinson expressed concern about the welfare of the youth players used in all of Bolton's games;[27] such concerns led Bolton to call off the game against Doncaster Rovers on 20 August[28][29] but without informing either Doncaster or the EFL.[28] Parkinson and assistant Steve Parkin resigned the following day.[30] The club confirmed that academy manager Jimmy Phillips would take temporary charge of the club.[31] Wanderers lost 5–0 at home to Ipswich Town in Phillips' first game in charge of Bolton, in front of a record low crowd at the University of Bolton Stadium.[32]

An EFL deadline of 5PM BST on 27 August had been imposed on Bolton to prove their financial viability under current ownership or complete a takeover deal, with failure to satisfy this criteria by the deadline resulting in Bolton's EFL membership being revoked, and consequently the beginning of a liquidation process of the club and its assets.[33][34] However, on 26 August, joint administrator Paul Appleton announced that the Football Ventures takeover had fallen through on the morning of 24 August, having looked close to completion the previous day.[35][36] After Bolton failed to meet 27 August deadline, the suspension of its notice of withdrawal from the EFL was lifted; however, the club was not immediately expelled from the EFL - it was given until 12 September 2019 to meet all outstanding requirements of the League's insolvency policy.[37]

On 28 August, Bolton announced that the club's sale to Football Ventures (Whites) Limited had been completed, with the administrator paying tribute to the Eddie Davies Trust and their legal team, and criticising Anderson who had "used his position as a secured creditor to hamper and frustrate any deal that did not benefit him or suit his purposes."[38] On 31 August, shortly after Bolton lost a fourth consecutive game conceding five goals in each, Keith Hill was announced as the new club manager.[39] Bolton's first game under Hill saw the club lose 6–1 to Rotherham United,[40] before picking up their first point under Hill on 17 September 2019 in a 0–0 draw at home to Oxford United.[41] Bolton won their first game of the season on 22 October 2019 in a 2–0 win away at Bristol Rovers,[42] before winning a further three consecutive matches in all competitions, taking the club to a positive points total for the first time.[43]

Bolton struggled to find form throughout the 2019-20 campaign, winning just 5 of their 34 matches up to 10 March. The EFL League One season was suspended on 13 March due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. On 9 June, the season was ended with promotion, play off, and relegation positions determined on a points-per-game basis.

This condemned the club to relegation and Bolton Wanderers will compete in the 2020-21 League Two campaign.

This will be only the second time in the club's 146-year history that they have played football in England's fourth tier. The previous occasion came in the 1987-88 campaign, in which Bolton were promoted back to the third tier at the first attempt.

Like the season before against St Mirren, the Bolton first team refused to play the match against Chester due to unpaid wages.[44] They also refused to play in the Preston game as well.[45] Following this, Oldham Athletic cancelled a third game as Bolton could not give assurances about fielding a competitive team.[19] Bolton were able to schedule last minute replacements matches against Bradford City[46] and Salford City,[47] though the matches had to be played behind closed doors.

York City v Bolton Wanderers XI

14 July 2019 (2019-07-14) Friendly	York City	1–0	Bolton Wanderers XI	York
14:00 BST	Kempster  31'	Report		Stadium: Bootham Crescent Attendance: 666

Bolton Wanderers v Al-Ittihad

16 July 2019 (2019-07-16) Friendly	Bolton Wanderers	2–3	Al-Ittihad	Bolton
	Oztumer  20' Hall  30'	Report Report	Prijović  13' Al-Ghamdi  69' Al-Bishi  72'	Attendance: Behind closed doors

Bolton Wanderers v Bradford City

23 July 2019 (2019-07-23) Friendly	Bolton Wanderers	2–1	Bradford City	Bolton
	Politic Murphy	Report	Vaughan  pen.'	Attendance: Behind closed doors

Bolton Wanderers v Salford City

27 July 2019 (2019-07-27) Friendly	Bolton Wanderers	1–0	Salford City	Bolton
	Oztumer	Report		Attendance: Behind closed doors

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 2 DF  ENG Josh Emmanuel 3 DF  ENG Joe Bunney 4 MF  ENG Jason Lowe (captain) 5 DF  ENG Jack Hobbs 6 DF  IRL Ryan Delaney 7 MF  ENG Will Buckley 8 MF  ENG Luke Murphy 9 FW  IRL Daryl Murphy 10 FW  ENG Chris O'Grady 11 MF  SCO Ali Crawford 12 DF  ENG Brandon Fleming (on loan from Hull City) 14 MF  ENG Jacob Mellis 16 MF  CYP Anthony Georgiou (on loan from Tottenham Hotspur) 17 DF  ENG Kean Bryan (on loan from Sheffield United) 18 MF  SCO Ethan Hamilton (on loan from Manchester United) 19 FW  ENG Muhammadu Faal 20 GK  ENG Remi Matthews 21 DF  ENG Harry Brockbank 22 MF  ROU Dennis Politic 23 FW  GHA Joe Dodoo

No. Pos. Nation Player 26 DF  ENG Liam Edwards 27 MF  ENG Ronan Darcy 28 DF  COD Aristote Nsiala (on loan from Ipswich Town) 30 DF  FRA Yoan Zouma 33 FW  ENG Eddie Brown 34 DF  ENG Adam Senior 35 MF  ENG Sonny Graham 36 MF  WAL Callum King-Harmes 37 MF  ENG Finlay Hurford-Lockett 38 DF  ENG Joe White 39 FW  ENG De'Marlio Brown-Sterling 40 MF  ENG Myles Edmondson 41 DF  ENG D'Neal Richards 42 FW  ENG Kwame Osigwe 43 GK  ENG Matthew Alexander 44 MF  ENG Regan Riley 45 DF  ENG Nathan Whalley 46 GK  ENG Luke Hutchinson 47 MF  ENG Jay Fitzmartin

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 24 FW  ENG Connor Hall (at Chorley F.C. until June 2020) 29 MF  ENG George Thomason (on loan at Bamber Bridge until June 2020)

Statistics

As of match played 10 March 2020

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		League One		FA Cup		League Cup		League Trophy
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Goalkeepers
20	GK		Remi Matthews	38	0	33+0	0	1+0	0	1+0	0	3+0	0
43	GK		Matthew Alexander	2	0	1+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	1+0	0
Defenders
2	DF		Josh Emmanuel	31	0	25+2	0	1+0	0	0+0	0	3+0	0
3	DF		Joe Bunney	2	0	1+1	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
5	DF		Jack Hobbs	12	1	11+0	1	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+1	0
6	DF		Ryan Delaney	4	1	2+2	1	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
12	DF		Brandon Fleming	10	0	10+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
17	DF		Kean Bryan	6	1	6+0	1	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
21	DF		Harry Brockbank	8	0	5+1	0	0+0	0	1+0	0	1+0	0
26	DF		Liam Edwards	7	0	6+0	0	0+0	0	1+0	0	0+0	0
28	DF		Aristote Nsiala	12	0	12+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
30	DF		Yoan Zouma	22	0	13+3	0	1+0	0	1+0	0	4+0	0
34	DF		Adam Senior	4	0	1+1	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	2+0	0
38	DF		Joe White	5	0	3+1	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+1	0
Midfielders
4	MF		Jason Lowe	34	0	28+1	0	1+0	0	1+0	0	3+0	0
7	MF		Will Buckley	6	0	3+2	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	1+0	0
8	MF		Luke Murphy	32	2	26+3	2	1+0	0	1+0	0	1+0	0
11	MF		Ali Crawford	14	2	12+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	2+0	2
14	MF		Jacob Mellis	6	0	1+5	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
16	MF		Anthony Georgiou	2	0	0+2	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
18	MF		Ethan Hamilton	12	1	12+0	1	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
22	MF		Dennis Politic	30	5	19+5	3	0+1	0	1+0	1	3+1	1
27	MF		Ronan Darcy	22	2	14+5	1	0+0	0	1+0	1	2+0	0
35	MF		Sonny Graham	18	0	6+7	0	1+0	0	0+0	0	3+1	0
36	MF		Callum King-Harmes	7	0	3+2	0	0+0	0	1+0	0	1+0	0
37	MF		Finlay Hurford-Lockett	3	0	0+2	0	0+0	0	0+1	0	0+0	0
44	MF		Regan Riley	1	0	0+1	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
47	MF		Jay Fitzmartin	1	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+1	0
Forwards
9	FW		Daryl Murphy	26	8	23+1	8	1+0	0	0+0	0	1+0	0
10	FW		Chris O'Grady	23	4	10+10	2	1+0	0	0+0	0	2+0	2
19	FW		Muhammadu Faal	2	0	0+2	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
23	FW		Joe Dodoo	26	4	15+8	4	1+0	0	0+0	0	1+1	0
33	FW		Eddie Brown	7	0	4+1	0	0+0	0	1+0	0	1+0	0
39	FW		De'Marlio Brown-Sterling	4	0	1+1	0	0+0	0	0+1	0	0+1	0
Player(s) out on loan
24	FW		Connor Hall	2	0	0+1	0	0+1	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
Player(s) who left the club
6	DF		Jake Wright	12	0	11+0	0	1+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
10	MF		Erhun Oztumer	1	0	1+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
12	DF		Adam Chicksen	20	0	14+2	0	1+0	0	0+0	0	2+1	0
14	MF		James Weir	12	0	7+1	0	0+0	0	1+0	0	3+0	0
17	MF		Thibaud Verlinden	17	3	12+3	3	0+0	0	0+0	0	1+1	0
28	MF		Liam Bridcutt	12	0	11+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	1+0	0
31	DF		Jordan Boon	5	0	1+2	0	0+0	0	0+1	0	1+0	0
32	DF		Josh Earl	11	0	9+0	0	0+1	0	0+0	0	1+0	0

Goals record

As of match played 10 March 2020

Rank	No.	Nat.	Po.	Name	League One	FA Cup	League Cup	League Trophy	Total
1	9		CF	Daryl Murphy	8	0	0	0	8
2	22		RW	Dennis Politic	3	0	1	1	5
3	10		CF	Chris O'Grady	2	0	0	2	4
	23		CF	Joe Dodoo	4	0	0	0	4
5	-		LW	Thibaud Verlinden	3	0	0	0	3
6	8		CM	Luke Murphy	2	0	0	0	2
	11		CAM	Ali Crawford	0	0	0	2	2
	27		CAM	Ronan Darcy	1	0	1	0	2
9	5		CB	Jack Hobbs	1	0	0	0	1
	6		CB	Ryan Delaney	1	0	0	0	1
	17		CB	Kean Bryan	1	0	0	0	1
	18		CM	Ethan Hamilton	1	0	0	0	1
Total					27	0	2	5	34

Disciplinary record

As of match played 10 March 2020

Rank	No.	Nat.	Po.	Name	League One			FA Cup			League Cup			EFL Trophy			Total
1	8		CM	Luke Murphy	4	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	1	0
2	4		CM	Jason Lowe	4	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	1
3	2		RB	Josh Emmanuel	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	4	0	0
	22		RW	Dennis Politic	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	4	0	0
	27		CAM	Ronan Darcy	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	0
	-		CB	Josh Earl	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1
7	21		RB	Harry Brockbank	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	3	0	0
	28		CB	Aristote Nsiala	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0
9	5		CB	Jack Hobbs	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
	6		CB	Jake Wright	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
	7		CAM	Will Buckley	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
	17		CB	Kean Bryan	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
	18		CM	Ethan Hamilton	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
	30		CB	Yoan Zouma	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
	33		CF	Eddie Brown	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	2	0	0
	-		LW	Thibaud Verlinden	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
	-		DM	Liam Bridcutt	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
18	9		CF	Chris O'Grady	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
	12		LB	Brandon Fleming	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
	20		GK	Remi Matthews	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
	23		CF	Joe Dodoo	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
	26		CB	Liam Edwards	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
	35		CM	Sonny Graham	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	0
	47		RW	Jay Fitzmartin	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	0
	-		LB	Adam Chicksen	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
	-		CM	James Weir	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
Total					48	1	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	6	0	0	55	1	2