BUCKLEY BACKS HILL’S BLUEPRINT TO LIFT BOLTON
WILL Buckley has a renewed sense of optimism about Bolton Wanderers’ future after re-signing for the club and linking up with former boss Keith Hill.
The Trotters hit the headlines last season for all the wrong reasons and after the club went into administration, Buckley became a free agent.
But the 29-year-old holds no grudges and after a meeting with Boltonborn Hill, who managed Buckley at Rochdale, the decision to sign on again was a simple one.
Buckley made his return in a battling goalless draw with Oxford in midweek. It was just Bolton’s second point of the season and left them on -10 after being deducted 12 points for going into administration.
“It has been a long time out for me, I haven’t even had a pre-season, so it was unbelievable to get back out on the pitch and the atmosphere was fantastic,” said the former Brighton and Sunderland winger.
“The fans got right behind us and I think that is also down to Keith because they like what he is about.
“It was a long time ago but I have played under him before and we met up a few days before I resigned for the club.
“He spoke to me about his passion for the club and wanting to restore the good old days – I enjoyed my time at Bolton so I saw no reason why I shouldn’t re-sign and try and help him with his vision.
“With the situation as it is, I think we have to go out there, take each game in isolation and just keep chipping away.
“There’s a positive attitude back around the club now and we need to look past the league position and just try and help this club in every game that we play now.”
Hill and his assistant David Flitcroft used transfer deadline day to make nine new signings, including Buckley, after the club started the season using predominantly youth team players.
Bolton’s only point before the Oxford game came in a goalless draw with Coventry and they’ve suffered some heavy defeats.
But the likes of Buckley, Liam Bridcutt and Daryl Murphy should help relieve some of the pressure on the youngsters and add valuable experience to the squad.
“A lot of our players need to prove something to either themselves or someone else and that helps us – Keith’s man-management is really good and he brings the best out of me,” added Buckley.
“The young lads that have come in will have benefited from the experience. They were getting beaten 5-0 week-in, weekout and I have no doubt they will have learnt from that and a few will stay with the first-team squad.
“Now we have got a new cohort of senior players in, we can bleed those youngsters in a bit slower which will be a lot better for them.”
Entering his third season at Bolton, Buckley is eager to get the club heading in the right direction again.
“Last season it was a very difficult place to be and it was a terrible time for the club and everyone involved - it just got worse and we were really worried about what was going to happen,” he added.
“I had no qualms at all when I signed either time, though, and now I just want to start helping the team again.”