Parkinson quits troubled Bolton
Manager says he ‘felt it was the right time to go’ Protests at Bury ahead of deadline to stay in EFL
The crisis at Bolton Wanderers deepened yesterday when Phil Parkinson and Steve Parkin resigned from their respective positions as manager and assistant manager.
Bolton, who were deducted 12 points at the start of the season and have been in administration since May, had Tuesday’s fixture against Doncaster Rovers postponed after starting just three senior outfield players in Saturday’s 5-0 defeat by Tranmere Rovers.
Concerns had been raised over the welfare of the younger players after the Tranmere match and Parkinson said that the players and staff had been “hung out to dry” amid a protracted potential takeover by Football Ventures. The deal was blocked earlier this month following a court order issued by Laurence Bassini, who tried to buy the club this year. Bolton responded yesterday with a short statement that confirmed a notice of resignation, but said only that “the matter is being considered”.
Parkinson joined Bolton in 2016 and, despite a transfer embargo, oversaw promotion from League One. Bolton were then relegated earlier this year following a season overshadowed by concerns over the club’s financial future. Parkinson told the Bolton News yesterday he “felt it was the right time to go”.
The turmoil also continued yesterday at Bury, where former director irector Joy Hart chained d herself to a drainpipe ipe at Gigg Lane and pleaded eaded for neighbouring g Manchester
City and nd Manchester United to help rescue the club. b. Hart, daughter of club legend Les Hart, staged her protest outside e the main reception on amid tomoromorrow’s deadline for Bury to provide the necessary financial information to stay in the English Football League.
On an extraordinary day, a coffin with the words “RIP Bury 1885?” painted on it was brought to the club’s ground by fans.
“My father would be devastated,” Hart said. “My father was here at Bury for 44 years as player, captain, physio, manager, trainer. Now we face extinction. All I want now is for local teams, including Man City and Man United, to help save Bury in its hour of need. I am appealing to all the North-west clubs. Please help us. Unless someone comes in, we are dead on Friday. For ever.” Hart has also asked the E EFL to extend tomorrow’s dea deadline. Bury’s match again against Tranmere on Saturday h has been suspended and the E EFL has been trying to gath gather further clarity about t the club’s financial obligations. If a solution is not foun found, the EFL board has said it will authorise the necesnec sary share transfer on behalf of Bu Bury which will res result in the club no longer being a member of the league. After winning promotion to League One this year, Bury have already been docked 12 points this season and have yet to play a game.
The EFL has stressed that it has been consistently asking for the same information from Bury as it requires from all 72 cubs. It specifically wants proof that they can pay creditors as part of their Company Voluntary Agreement and that there are then sufficient funds to complete the season.
Steve Dale bought Bury from Stewart Day in December 2018 for £1 and turned down a recent offer to buy the club from Norman Smurthwaite, the former chairman of Port Vale. Joe Sealey, son of former Manchester United goalkeeper Les, yesterday also reiterated his interest in taking on the club.
Should Bury have their league membership revoked, League One would consist of 23 clubs and there would be only three relegation places this season, rather than the usual four. Bury would be free to make an application to the Football Association to rejoin league competition further down the English football pyramid from 2020-21.