WE’RE in a mess. We’ve been on the slide since we got relegated in 2012.

The financial position is so bad that someone has to go before anyone comes in.

No club could lose the number of experienced players we’ve had to do these past few years and not take a hit on the field.

Our owner, Eddie Davies, is looking to sell a not very saleable club.

As the new season approaches, I’m looking for signs that we are beginning to turn things around.

Forget promotion and play-offs, a comfortable top-half finish would be progress and a decent cup run would be good as that is often an early sign of future success. As things stand I think another relegation battle is on the cards.

I’m sure Neil Lennon will get the best out of what he has got.

I’m just not sure of what he’s got. His rebuilding is still in progress. Mini-Campo, Derik and Madine look good acquisitions.

We can build a midfield around Zach Clough, Mark Davies and Josh Vela.

A lot of faith is going to rest on young shoulders this season. We need to cure our horrendous injury problems.

We cannot afford to carry players who can’t play 30-plus matches a season.

We must avoid flogging our talented young players for a pittance. Ipswich are already reported to be interested in Vela.

The development squad will never get a bigger incentive to do well as every position is up for grabs in the first team. Vela, Clough, Oscar Threlkeld, Max Clayton and Tom Walker all got their chance last season and players like Niall Maher, Andy Kellett, Kaiyne Woollery, Alex Finney, Quade Taylor and Rob Holding look promising.

In previous seasons, I’ve felt more optimistic. Then we’ve got off to horrific starts and the seasons have been over by Halloween.

I don’t pretend to understand the world of finance but until our finances are sorted out, my expectations are not high but I sincerely hope to be proved wrong.

It’s against all odds but adversity might just bring the best out of Bolton.