A New Frontier

[truewhite15]

So then. August represents an opportunity to start afresh.

Time to put the disaster of this season behind us, and look ahead.

What would you be happy with in League 1 this time next season?

Cast your votes...

[Gary the Enfield]

A friend today reminded me that 8 years ago Leicester were relegated to Div. 1

Be reet.

Promotion I reckon.

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

I'm reserving judgement for a month or two until it's clearer who will be managing us and if the dynamic duo can get their act together.

[BWFC_Insane]

I'm reserving judgement for a month or two until it's clearer who will be managing us and if the dynamic duo can get their act together.

Aye. Impossible to say right now. Need to see the manager and squad. If it's Reid/Phillips and 'go with what we have' squad wise I really fear we could slip another league.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Tell you what, let's have a poll now and then a different one later in the summer.

I'm currently reasonably optimistic but that may be affected by failure to get (1) a good manager (2) rid of the overpaid underachievers.

[Worthy4England]

Think it's fair to say at this stage there's a fair spread of viewpoints. Probably a reflection on the lack of any sort of certainty.

[truewhite15]

Interesting that nobody has yet selected the "Play Off" option - which would imply that should we finish next season in the play offs, but fail to win promotion, few would be satisfied. As opposed to the few that have selected Play Off Outsiders - so would people therefore be happier with nearly-but-not-quite getting into the play offs, rather than getting there but not winning the grand prize?

[twilight]

I've voted for promotion. I'm expecting this because I will have a season ticket and I'm a lucky mascot for them

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Interesting that nobody has yet selected the "Play Off" option - which would imply that should we finish next season in the play offs, but fail to win promotion, few would be satisfied. As opposed to the few that have selected Play Off Outsiders - so would people therefore be happier with nearly-but-not-quite getting into the play offs, rather than getting there but not winning the grand prize?

nah mate it's just different opinions, you can't take an average. The average person has one testicle, and all that.

[thebish]

Interesting that nobody has yet selected the "Play Off" option - which would imply that should we finish next season in the play offs, but fail to win promotion, few would be satisfied. As opposed to the few that have selected Play Off Outsiders - so would people therefore be happier with nearly-but-not-quite getting into the play offs, rather than getting there but not winning the grand prize?

nah mate it's just different opinions, you can't take an average. The average person has one testicle, and all that.

i've always known I am more than averagely equipped down there...

[Peter Thompson]

If we are to have any chance next season Pratley needs to be a long way from the Macron. The team mirror him in the way they play....plodding, slow, lethargic, clueless, don't give a shite, mentally weak, head less chicken, zero quality, cant pass or shoot for toffee.

1st job for the new manager has to be to try & sell Pratley or at least shift out on loan (even if its subsidised) - IMO he cant be in the 1st team next season never mind be captain....the team won't / can't change the way they play with Pratley in the side.

[Prufrock]

Are there options for with/without Darren?

[jonnycooper]

Whoa!! Hold your horses! We may find out next season that Pratley has truly found his level,and could turn out to be our talisman! Or maybe not!

[plymouth wanderer]

Does't matter who comes and who goes! We got to be expecting to be flirting with the play offs surely?

[Devon White]

I've voted for promotion. I'm expecting this because I will have a season ticket and I'm a lucky mascot for them

Following wigan and wolves, has to be promotion.

[bobo the clown]

I've voted for promotion. I'm expecting this because I will have a season ticket and I'm a lucky mascot for them

There you go. Blind, unfounded, irrational optimism .... & I love it. It's how it should be.

[Lord Kangana]

By hook or by crook, by every which way but loose, our aim surely as a club is to try to claw our way back up, isn't it?

Admittedly, we have to stop the slide as a priority (and from Warnock's interview the other night, DSB, it looks like he hasn't signed for Rotherham yet). Yet, simultaneously, you can't aim for mediocrity and hope to achieve it.

New season, new hope! COYFWM!

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I've voted for promotion. I'm expecting this because I will have a season ticket and I'm a lucky mascot for them

Following wigan and wolves, has to be promotion.

Doesn't have to be... (Nice to meet you yesterday BTW)

This idea intrigued me so I checked how the 15 clubs relegated from tier two over the last five years have done in the subsequent Division Three campaign. The answer is decidedly mixed yet curiously rigid: 3 title-winners, but none up as runners-up; 3 made the play-offs but none have yet gone up (unless Millwall buck the trend this year); 6 were in midtable but miles off the playoffs (finishing 11th to 18th); ...and 3 went down.

Here they are, ordered by the season they went down (bottom team first) with their finishing position the following year in brackets, and additional info where interesting.

2014/15: Blackpool (21R), Wigan (1C), Millwall (5PO)
2013/14: Yeovil (24R), Barnsley (11), Doncaster (13)
2012/13: Bristol City (12 - champions the following season), Wolves (1C), Posh (6PO)
2011/12: Pompey (24R), Coventry (15), Doncaster (1C, relegated back again the following season)
2010/11: Scunny (18, relegated the following season), Sheff Utd (3PO), Preston (15, promoted after four seasons)

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

from Warnock's interview the other night, DSB, it looks like he hasn't signed for Rotherham yet

Fair enough, ta. Still don't want him.

[OrtonCakeBingoBongo]

I did think about having a vote, but decided it would be perhaps disrespectful as a follower of another team to get involved, or not the recommended course of action.

Just wanted to say, hope you can return as soon as possible. Bolton I think are one of the founder members of the football league, have a long and illustrious history (not to mention the famous White Horse Final) and really, the third level of football is no place for a a club of your stature.

Been reading through one or two other club pages today and teams involved yesterday, and all the talk is about the promoted teams and Brighton missing out - but no mention of the relegated sides which I thought was unfair. Yes you've had a poor season and we won't get to play you again for at least another year, but tell yourselves you're the best of league One when it all gets underway again in a few weeks, and hopefully with enough belief and determination, Bolton can be playing at the second level once again. As before, a club of your history and recognition should not (ideally) be playing at third league status.

Don't let the negatives of this season get you down and try to remain upbeat.