WANDERERS have opened all four sides of the stadium to home fans for the first time in a decade to cater for the demand for tomorrow’s Chesterfield clash.

Chairman Ken Anderson sanctioned the move yesterday after seeking police permission to move away supporters to the top tier of the South Stand.

Including season tickets, more than 20,000 seats have been sold and will remain priced at £5 on the day of the game.

The Whites are on course to welcome their second-largest crowd for a third tier game in the club’s history.

Just over 33,000 watched Wanderers lose 1-0 to Blackburn in March 1973 but the next biggest gate crowd at Burnden Park was the 21,720 who packed in to see John McGinlay’s penalty beat Preston North End in 1993 and secure promotion.

There are still six more games to come for Phil Parkinson’s men to try and emulate their achievement but Anderson hopes a vociferous backing tomorrow afternoon will help seal three more priceless points.

“I think the demand for tickets this week says a lot,” he told The Bolton News. “I just hope this weekend and for the rest of the season people can keep right behind the team and cheer us on to where we want to be.”

The decision to open the South Stand Lower to home fans was made after some people were struggling to book two or three seats together.

“I just felt by doing this we gave people the greatest possible chance of coming to the game and supporting the team,” Anderson said. “We need to do every little bit we can to see this over the line.”

Phil Parkinson has ensured his players know exactly what is at stake as they go into the final stages of the season.

“This group could be remembered as the group who turned the fortunes of this club back around again,” he said. “In five or 10 years when we come back to the stadium, you want to be doing it with your head held high and with supporters remembering what you have achieved.

“We’re in that great position now. Let’s push on against Chesterfield.”