DAVID CONNOLLY

Our guest columnist examines the situation at crisis club Bolton

POOR Phil Parkinson is doing such a fine job in the most trying of circumstances at Bolton Wanderers.

They ground out a great win over Millwall last weekend before losing to a resurgent Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 at home on Tuesday.

It didn’t help that the players were still fretting over unpaid wages before the game, although they were paid their February wages just prior to the defeat to Wednesday.

Following the win over Millwall, it would have helped if the club could have found the money owed so that the feelgood factor could have been used going into the game versus the Owls - and Parkinson must have been pulling his hair out that the wages weren’t paid on the Monday.

Vital

Now they go into a period of fixtures in the next few weeks where it will be vital they take points.

Yesterday’s visit to Wigan was a big game for both teams and the Trotters then visit QPR after the international break (March 30) and host bottom of the table Ipswich the following weekend.

Key to ensuring harmony is restored is chief executive Paul Aldridge. He was at West Ham when I turned out for the Hammers, before moving on to Leicester City.

He left the Foxes to join Manchester City, before departing for Sheffield Wednesday where he worked under difficult circumstances - and he has found himself in even more troubled waters at Wanderers. Aldridge will be the go-between for the football staff and players, and no doubt his skills in scenarios like this, of which he is well versed, will be crucial in Bolton overcoming these difficult times. It’s great news the players have been paid. From personal experience, I know how difficult it can be when a club have financial problems. I was at Wimbledon in 2002/03 when they went into administration and it was a traumatic time for everyone associated with the club. Players are always the preferred creditors and will be paid first.

However, it’s the coaching staff, the academy staff and the support staff around the club who are more vulnerable.

Vulnerable

They are usually offered far less than what they are due, while the players will normally get 100 per cent of what is owed, albeit late or in instalments.

Let’s hope Bolton avoid that fate, a much talked about takeover happens sooner rather than later and the football club gets back on its feet as soon as possible.