The Debt.

[bobo the clown]

Hmmmm.

In my opinion, it is our playing staff wage bill is what is killing us. Without a rich benefactor I don't see a solution other than creating a situation where we can cancel those contracts.

It'd be a shame to lose players like Clough, Vela, Amos for nothing, but worth it to secure the future of the club.

Maybe ... but we should be selective. The wages of Medo, Spearing & Mavis alone probably equal the rest of the squads. Two of those we ought to be able to get a fee of some sort as well.

Don't give away what you can sell.

[Prufrock]

Amos is supposedly on big wages. I imagine the club accountants dream of a squad of players on the money Vela and Clough get. We just need another 9 of them!

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Amos is supposedly on big wages. I imagine the club accountants dream of a squad of players on the money Vela and Clough get. We just need another 9 of them!

Might be best trying to hold on to academy coaches then.

Except the EPPP means youth products can walk away for relative buttons anyway.

[Loyal White]

Hmmmm.

In my opinion, it is our playing staff wage bill is what is killing us. Without a rich benefactor I don't see a solution other than creating a situation where we can cancel those contracts.

It'd be a shame to lose players like Clough, Vela, Amos for nothing, but worth it to secure the future of the club.

Maybe ... but we should be selective. The wages of Medo, Spearing & Mavis alone probably equal the rest of the squads. Two of those we ought to be able to get a fee of some sort as well.

Don't give away what you can sell.

We've definitely been trying to offload Medo since Lennon got here, I suspect Spearing too. No one wants them/is willing to pay their wages.

I suspect the same would be true of the likes of Wheater and Pratley plus others like Danns, Feaney, Pisano, Moxey, etc.

Mark Davies might be the exception, but I couldn't see us taking more than £500k for someone who struggles to play 20 games in a season.

I'm sure that we could probably get a couple of million for Clough, Vela and maybe Amos, but once that money pays off HMRC/Finance/Warburtons/etc we're still left with the high wage bill for the crap no one wants to take off our hands.

[Loyal White]

Amos is supposedly on big wages. I imagine the club accountants dream of a squad of players on the money Vela and Clough get. We just need another 9 of them!

This.

We had a situation this summer were our squad size and wage bill was at a level which was more sustainable.

Unfortunately someone signed off the purchases of Wilson, Madine, Ameobi, Pisano, Derek, Prince, Casado, Wellington, Radchuba and Amos. Plus contract extensions for Heskey and Pratley.

We wouldn't be any lower in the table without those additions. We might be closer to having a sustainable football club though.

[Jugs]

I think someone needs to explain this one to me, and it might be a naive question but: Why is it that only a madman would take on BWFC?

We've got a fantastic stadium, good training facilities, a hotel, we're in the Championship, we're still a relatively big name in the football world ... why can't we find investors, especially now that the debt has been wiped? Why can City get investors, Forest, Leicester, Southampton, and so on but not Bolton. What's really so bad about us?

Because we are losing money hand over fist and have little value in our squad and therefore need not only large sums to simply stay afloat but huge investment to get moving upwards.

The sums we are losing are what is frightening apparently. We definitely don't have the full picture yet.

However discussions of sale of the club have gone on for over a year with no buyer as yet coming close to putting money down.

Are you saying that we're an exceptional case and there is no other club like us that loses money like we do?

I don't get it. The debt has been wiped, we should be an attractive proposition to buyers. Surely. Leicester have got wealthy owners, as have Southampton, Forest, even bloody Bournemouth.

Why have Bolton not been able to attract a buyer after all this time?

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

We've definitely been trying to offload Medo since Lennon got here, I suspect Spearing too. No one wants them/is willing to pay their wages.

I suspect the same would be true of the likes of Wheater and Pratley plus others like Danns, Feaney, Pisano, Moxey, etc.

Mark Davies might be the exception, but I couldn't see us taking more than £500k for someone who struggles to play 20 games in a season.

I'm sure that we could probably get a couple of million for Clough, Vela and maybe Amos, but once that money pays off HMRC/Finance/Warburtons/etc we're still left with the high wage bill for the crap no one wants to take off our hands.

I think even Dougie himself was trying to offload Medo once the finances started biting him even harder. You have to imagine Spearing is among the club's highest earners. I sometimes wonder if we're paying an extra amount (to him or LFC) per appearance, too, given Lennon's apparent reluctance to pick him.

According to that Times report, Wheater got a pay-rise after relegation. Like you don't.

I tend to assume that apart from the odd outlier like Amos, the later you signed the less you're on. Can't think Moxey, Danns, Feeney are on much, Pisano next to bog-all. As for Pratley, depends how much we blinked during contract negotiations.

Why have Bolton not been able to attract a buyer after all this time?

Sadly, I think a lot of early possibilities were frightened off by the insistence (if true) of retaining Gartside as chairman and Davies as president. And now we look like financial roadkill, less likely to get picked up.

[Jugs]

Why have Bolton not been able to attract a buyer after all this time?

Sadly, I think a lot of early possibilities were frightened off by the insistence (if true) of retaining Gartside as chairman and Davies as president. And now we look like financial roadkill, less likely to get picked up.

If true, I - and I assume many other fans - would be pissed off. It's ridiculous that the club has got itself into this position.

[Gudnib]

We've definitely been trying to offload Medo since Lennon got here, I suspect Spearing too. No one wants them/is willing to pay their wages.

I suspect the same would be true of the likes of Wheater and Pratley plus others like Danns, Feaney, Pisano, Moxey, etc.

Mark Davies might be the exception, but I couldn't see us taking more than £500k for someone who struggles to play 20 games in a season.

I'm sure that we could probably get a couple of million for Clough, Vela and maybe Amos, but once that money pays off HMRC/Finance/Warburtons/etc we're still left with the high wage bill for the crap no one wants to take off our hands.

I think even Dougie himself was trying to offload Medo once the finances started biting him even harder. You have to imagine Spearing is among the club's highest earners. I sometimes wonder if we're paying an extra amount (to him or LFC) per appearance, too, given Lennon's apparent reluctance to pick him.

According to that Times report, Wheater got a pay-rise after relegation. Like you don't.

I tend to assume that apart from the odd outlier like Amos, the later you signed the less you're on. Can't think Moxey, Danns, Feeney are on much, Pisano next to bog-all. As for Pratley, depends how much we blinked during contract negotiations.

Why have Bolton not been able to attract a buyer after all this time?

Sadly, I think a lot of early possibilities were frightened off by the insistence (if true) of retaining Gartside as chairman and Davies as president. And now we look like financial roadkill, less likely to get picked up.

If true. But maybe they were chancers who thought they could make a bit of a killing and didn't really take to the idea of anyone tagging along
who might just have the best interests of BWFC at heart

[Loyal White]

We've definitely been trying to offload Medo since Lennon got here, I suspect Spearing too. No one wants them/is willing to pay their wages.

I suspect the same would be true of the likes of Wheater and Pratley plus others like Danns, Feaney, Pisano, Moxey, etc.

Mark Davies might be the exception, but I couldn't see us taking more than £500k for someone who struggles to play 20 games in a season.

I'm sure that we could probably get a couple of million for Clough, Vela and maybe Amos, but once that money pays off HMRC/Finance/Warburtons/etc we're still left with the high wage bill for the crap no one wants to take off our hands.

I think even Dougie himself was trying to offload Medo once the finances started biting him even harder. You have to imagine Spearing is among the club's highest earners. I sometimes wonder if we're paying an extra amount (to him or LFC) per appearance, too, given Lennon's apparent reluctance to pick him.

According to that Times report, Wheater got a pay-rise after relegation. Like you don't.

I tend to assume that apart from the odd outlier like Amos, the later you signed the less you're on. Can't think Moxey, Danns, Feeney are on much, Pisano next to bog-all. As for Pratley, depends how much we blinked during contract negotiations.

I agree, but my point is that we have signed 9 first team players since the summer, brought in 2 loans (i've excluded Brattan as we're not paying him), and extended 2 contracts. If those salaries average £5k per week that's over £280k per month. For a club which can't pay it's wages or bills that's a considerable sum.

We should have been honest about the situation, not signed anyone, throw the kids in and hope... In hindsight it wouldn't have been any worse.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

We've definitely been trying to offload Medo since Lennon got here, I suspect Spearing too. No one wants them/is willing to pay their wages.

I suspect the same would be true of the likes of Wheater and Pratley plus others like Danns, Feaney, Pisano, Moxey, etc.

Mark Davies might be the exception, but I couldn't see us taking more than £500k for someone who struggles to play 20 games in a season.

I'm sure that we could probably get a couple of million for Clough, Vela and maybe Amos, but once that money pays off HMRC/Finance/Warburtons/etc we're still left with the high wage bill for the crap no one wants to take off our hands.

I think even Dougie himself was trying to offload Medo once the finances started biting him even harder. You have to imagine Spearing is among the club's highest earners. I sometimes wonder if we're paying an extra amount (to him or LFC) per appearance, too, given Lennon's apparent reluctance to pick him.

According to that Times report, Wheater got a pay-rise after relegation. Like you don't.

I tend to assume that apart from the odd outlier like Amos, the later you signed the less you're on. Can't think Moxey, Danns, Feeney are on much, Pisano next to bog-all. As for Pratley, depends how much we blinked during contract negotiations.

I agree, but my point is that we have signed 9 first team players since the summer, brought in 2 loans (i've excluded Brattan as we're not paying him), and extended 2 contracts. If those salaries average £5k per week that's over £280k per month. For a club which can't pay it's wages or bills that's a considerable sum.

We should have been honest about the situation, not signed anyone, throw the kids in and hope... In hindsight it wouldn't have been any worse.

Yeah, wasn't arguing with that, fella. We seem to have hired mediocrity in bulk in a manner unknown since Sammy Lee.

[Loyal White]

We've definitely been trying to offload Medo since Lennon got here, I suspect Spearing too. No one wants them/is willing to pay their wages.

I suspect the same would be true of the likes of Wheater and Pratley plus others like Danns, Feaney, Pisano, Moxey, etc.

Mark Davies might be the exception, but I couldn't see us taking more than £500k for someone who struggles to play 20 games in a season.

I'm sure that we could probably get a couple of million for Clough, Vela and maybe Amos, but once that money pays off HMRC/Finance/Warburtons/etc we're still left with the high wage bill for the crap no one wants to take off our hands.

I think even Dougie himself was trying to offload Medo once the finances started biting him even harder. You have to imagine Spearing is among the club's highest earners. I sometimes wonder if we're paying an extra amount (to him or LFC) per appearance, too, given Lennon's apparent reluctance to pick him.

According to that Times report, Wheater got a pay-rise after relegation. Like you don't.

I tend to assume that apart from the odd outlier like Amos, the later you signed the less you're on. Can't think Moxey, Danns, Feeney are on much, Pisano next to bog-all. As for Pratley, depends how much we blinked during contract negotiations.

I agree, but my point is that we have signed 9 first team players since the summer, brought in 2 loans (i've excluded Brattan as we're not paying him), and extended 2 contracts. If those salaries average £5k per week that's over £280k per month. For a club which can't pay it's wages or bills that's a considerable sum.

We should have been honest about the situation, not signed anyone, throw the kids in and hope... In hindsight it wouldn't have been any worse.

Yeah, wasn't arguing with that, fella. We seem to have hired mediocrity in bulk in a manner unknown since Sammy Lee.

Completely agree DSB.

[Bruce Rioja]

I thought Medo had gone to somewhere in Israel.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I thought Medo had gone to somewhere in Israel.

I think they pulled out.

[BWFC_Insane]

I think someone needs to explain this one to me, and it might be a naive question but: Why is it that only a madman would take on BWFC?

We've got a fantastic stadium, good training facilities, a hotel, we're in the Championship, we're still a relatively big name in the football world ... why can't we find investors, especially now that the debt has been wiped? Why can City get investors, Forest, Leicester, Southampton, and so on but not Bolton. What's really so bad about us?

Because we are losing money hand over fist and have little value in our squad and therefore need not only large sums to simply stay afloat but huge investment to get moving upwards.

The sums we are losing are what is frightening apparently. We definitely don't have the full picture yet.

However discussions of sale of the club have gone on for over a year with no buyer as yet coming close to putting money down.

Are you saying that we're an exceptional case and there is no other club like us that loses money like we do?

I don't get it. The debt has been wiped, we should be an attractive proposition to buyers. Surely. Leicester have got wealthy owners, as have Southampton, Forest, even bloody Bournemouth.

Why have Bolton not been able to attract a buyer after all this time?

Why do people buy a football club? If it is to make money then the only viable way is in the premiership. How much investment do we need to get there?

If it is for raising their profile then the value of our assets in terms of stadium, training facilities etc matter little and our playing squad would hardly attract them.

That leaves rich Bolton supporters of which we have already had one supporting us.

Other clubs have found buyers. Not all of them good. But how long did it take?

In context we are a Northern town club losing over a million a month with very few sellable assets (unless you count facilities) and some loans with eye watering terms that need dealing with. We aren't an attractive proposition. If this was Wigan or Hull or Huddersfield we'd all be saying what a mess. I think someone will buy us but whether they are a saviour and the timescale for that is to be determined.

[Roy of the Rovers]

I think someone needs to explain this one to me, and it might be a naive question but: Why is it that only a madman would take on BWFC?

We've got a fantastic stadium, good training facilities, a hotel, we're in the Championship, we're still a relatively big name in the football world ... why can't we find investors, especially now that the debt has been wiped? Why can City get investors, Forest, Leicester, Southampton, and so on but not Bolton. What's really so bad about us?

Because we are losing money hand over fist and have little value in our squad and therefore need not only large sums to simply stay afloat but huge investment to get moving upwards.

The sums we are losing are what is frightening apparently. We definitely don't have the full picture yet.

However discussions of sale of the club have gone on for over a year with no buyer as yet coming close to putting money down.

Are you saying that we're an exceptional case and there is no other club like us that loses money like we do?

I don't get it. The debt has been wiped, we should be an attractive proposition to buyers. Surely. Leicester have got wealthy owners, as have Southampton, Forest, even bloody Bournemouth.

Why have Bolton not been able to attract a buyer after all this time?

Unfashionable Northern Hell Hole?

[Lord Kangana]

Not even a fashionable northern hell hole.

Ouch.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

The Sun are reporting that the owner has changed his mind for the time being and will pay the players wages

" BOLTON owner Eddie Davies will fork out around £1million to pay his players at Christmas — and prevent them from leaving for nothing.

The Isle of Man-based supremo has been persuaded he needs to make up the lost salaries due to Neil Lennon’s men at the cash-strapped club.
Davies had pulled the plug financially but was then advised that failing to pay the squad could mean the best of them go for nothing in the window next month.


So basically it wasn't a case of Eddie couldn't but Eddie wouldn't

Appears that whichever way it was still is...couldn't/wouldn't still equals isn't. Apparently. But then I'm paraphrasing Lennon and his grip on reality is increasingly focused on a universe parallel to the one I occupy.

[thebish]

all seems to have gone a bit quiet!

[Lost Leopard Spot]

all seems to have gone a bit quiet!

That's the sound of £32,258 and 6p fizzling out of existence each day...