Bolton Wanderers have been handed a five-point deduction, suspended for 18 months, for not fulfilling their fixtures against Brentford and Doncaster Rovers. The match against the Bees was due to be played on the final day of last season but players refused to take to the field due to unpaid wages. Meanwhile, the Rovers match was postponed due to welfare concerns for young players.
Bolton Wanderers Given Suspended Points Deduction
The Brentford Incident
Bolton’s summer of turmoil really took off on the last day of the 2018/19 season. Already relegated from the Championship, they were due to play Brentford on the final day, but the game was called off the day before due to Bolton’s players refusing to take part due to unpaid wages.
The game was originally rescheduled, but the Bees were eventually awarded a 1-0 win and took the points. The EFL said that Wanderers were guilty of misconduct as a result.
Summer of Turmoil
Headlines throughout pre-season were dominated by Bolton and near-neighbours Bury as they battled for their survival off the field. Players continued to go unpaid by owner Ken Anderson and were also locked out of the training ground.
The Trotters began the 2019/20 season in League One with a -14 points deduction for entering administration, immediately putting them on the back foot in the league.
Their season started by fielding youth teams in their fixtures to at least play games, but they refused to play their match against Doncaster due to the high levels of playing time that the youngsters had been subjected to, with serious concerns for their welfare.
The match was called off by the club without the knowledge of their opponents or the EFL.
Bolton Wanderers Punishment
As well as a suspended points deduction, Bolton Wanderers have been handed a financial penalty of £20,000 for the Brentford game and £50,000 for the Doncaster game. Both of these, as well, are suspended for 18 months.
Bolton chairman Sharon Brittain said: “We acknowledge the decision made by the panel and are pleased that these matters, which occurred under the previous administrations of the club, have now been resolved.
“Our collective attention must now be fully focused on [manager] Keith Hill, his staff and players as we look to get as many points as we can to climb the League One table.
“Bolton Wanderers supporters and staff have shown tremendous patience and passion throughout and we are now looking forward to working together to continue the rebuilding of this great football club.”
Wanderers have since moved into positive points for the first time this season after Daryl Murphy scored a 93rd-minute winner to beat fellow strugglers MK Dons 1-0.
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