AFTER yet another traumatic week in the life of a Bolton Wanderers supporter, it was a relief to be boarding the coach on Saturday morning for the trek to Bristol, looking forward to a game of football.

For once the journey was surprisingly smooth, which meant we arrived in good time to enjoy a pie and a pint.

It’s been difficult to think about the football side since the misguided rants of another chairman, set off all kinds of disproportionate reaction from fans and the media before both sides of the story could be heard and the facts established.

Correct me if I’m wrong but it would appear that the Christian Doidge transfer hasn’t gone through yet because the EFL imposed a registrations embargo on the club.

How Phil Parkinson manages to get a team out there to perform for Bolton Wanderers each week in such difficult circumstances is beyond me. But thankfully he does, and he brought back Will Buckley to face an in-form Bristol City side. We held our own in a dull first half and went ahead early in the second through a cracking goal from Buckley, to give us something to smile about. Unfortunately, it didn’t last long, and a couple of defensive mistakes put paid to any prospects of getting a result at Ashton Gate. But it was a creditable performance and the Bolton following left the players in no doubt of our support for the team.

I can understand everyone’s frustration at the seemingly never-ending perilous state of our finances. Without finding another true benefactor like Eddie Davies, there is not going to be an easy quick fix. In modern business, when you are stuck for cash, making payments when you receive winding-up petitions has replaced not paying until you get the final reminder. It’s not nice but that is the position we are in. If fans want to vent their frustrations in a protest at the WBA match, that’s fair enough but let’s do it in a peaceful and dignified way and not let it get out of hand and further tarnish what’s left of our diminished reputation. Everybody seems to be coming out of the woodwork to kick us while we’re down. We’re Bolton Wanderers. Let’s stick together and come up with some positive ideas to get us out of this mess.