''COME on you greens!'' Bolton Wanderers' fans don't have to worry about losing the shirts from their backs in the wake of visual mix-ups with referees in their new black and white speckled kit. There are no plans to withdraw the latest teal green away strips.

Concern immediately began after the Queen's Park Rangers away match at the weekend when players complained that the ref looked like a Wanderers' player. John McGinlay admitted giving the ball to the ref "a few times."

When this kind of problem arises, retailers and fans worry that this might be the end of the road for a particular shirt.

Earlier this year, Manchester United fans who had bought their latest grey shirts were disappointed when the club withdrew it amid claims that players could not see each other on the pitch.

In Bolton, though, the new Reebok strip has proved so popular since it was launched in June that both fans and local sports' shops have given it a very definite "thumbs up."

And today, Wanderers' chief executive Des McBain assured them: "There are definitely no plans to change this strip. It looks good and the fans like it. We're very pleased with it."

Certainly, a glance around Bolton town centre - let alone at Burnden Park on match-day - reveals just how popular the leisure shirt is with males and females of every age.

And when you consider that an adult shirt costs £36.99 and a child's version (regardless of age) £29.99, that's quite an investment in this sporting fashion statement.

At Gibson's Sports in Deansgate, a spokesman said that they were currently sold out of the green kit which had proved to be "extremely popular."

A similar story was told by JJB Sports further down Deansgate where staff found that the Wanderers' away kit was a "must" for many local families.

Some sports' shops, however, had their fingers burned when United withdrew the grey kit. In Bolton, prices plummeted down to £10 as rails of the out-of-favour shirts had to be ditched, upsetting hard-pressed families who had already forked out full-price.

Astley Bridge mum Mrs Jackie Bailey echoed the worries of many local families about the latest local situation.

Her eight years-old son, Andrew, six years-old brother Thomas and her husband Mike all celebrate their birthdays this month - and all want Wanderers' shirts!

"I'm getting the white home shirt for Andrew, and the green away shirts for Thomas and Mike. So, I just hope they're going to stick with the strip," she stated.

Jackie has already had shirty problems at home. "When players leave, it's almost impossible to get the white stuff with their names on from the back of the shirts," she explained.

"I managed to get the 'M' off McAteer but the rest is still on!" GREEN is a good colour choice for Bolton Wanderers' strip, explained local colour consultant Lesley Perrin, because it represents calm and spiritual growth. Unfortunately, it also represents camouflage.

"Teal green is a combination of blue and green," states Lesley, who works for House of Colour.

"Over distance, most colours will change. Green loses its hue and becomes blue; blue and purple become darker and finally become black."

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