FROM day one, Dean Holdsworth was determined to rise above the muck-throwing and back-biting which was all too prevalent in Wanderers’ takeover saga.

As the club lay vulnerable in the last few months, talks to safeguard its future were done behind closed doors, secrets kept quiet under non-disclosure agreements.

Fans complained about the lack of ready information. But in truth, the club’s communication department did all they could to try and keep people in the picture with what they were allowed to say. It was a nigh-on impossible task made harder by an owner who kept his own employees completely in the dark.

Real concrete truth was hard to come by as the clandestine world of business mixed with the day-to-day workings of a football club. It made for an uneasy atmosphere and caused an unnecessary amount of worry to fans and staff alike.

There has been an untold story in this battle for the boardroom, and it hasn’t been pretty.

But at the end of it all, Holdsworth’s Sports Shield group emerged victorious not only because they proved the most resilient but also because they came up with the goods.

Eddie Davies claims 50 different groups expressed an interest in buying Bolton Wanderers. The vast majority were described by former chairman Phil Gartside as “tyre kickers” and were only interested in getting their name in the papers.

Others got closer. Some saw the financial mess they would be tasked with sorting and ran a mile.

Some, The Bolton Wanderers Supporters’ Trust for example, found time or circumstance was against them, and had to reluctantly step aside.

Personally, I still believe they are one of the most positive things to come out of this whole affair. Once fully established they could yet be a force to be reckoned with.

Of the dozens and dozens of people who purported to be in the race to buy Bolton Wanderers the one thing most bidders had in common was their readiness to criticise other groups, question their finances and sully their reputation to anyone who would listen. Off the record, of course… People may question the longevity of Sports Shield’s successful bid and only time will tell whether their business plan proves successful. But that they emerged from this chaotic period without resorting to the tactics of others says a lot.

Holdsworth cancelled a press conference yesterday afternoon as he dived headlong into his new role as chief executive but the former striker is well aware there are some who remain unconvinced.

Buying Bolton Wanderers was such a seat-of-the-pants affair that he is only now finding out exactly what is under the hood. He is convinced, however, that his business plan stands up regardless of what the club’s immediate future holds.

“The Football League has seen everything they need to see this football club will survive – and that’s in the Championship and League One,” he said.

“They have seen everything to be satisfied, which tells you there is money there.

“Unfortunately today’s social media tells you many things, some true, some false. The important thing is that the powers that be – Eddie, Trevor Birch, Football League – have seen what finances are there, and they are satisfied.

“We have always had a plan A and a plan B because the dynamics have changed. We have always been aware that the process wouldn’t be easy.

“I have learned a hell of a lot about the business side of football clubs in the last six months. It has been a great education.

“We have been in this for a long time, probably six months. When our name was mentioned a long time ago you can’t deny something that you are interested in, it’s not fair. It has been a race and there have been many uncertain times where the dynamics changed in the transaction. Sometimes no-one was responsible for that but it was a very long process.

“You can see why, when you see the transactions that have gone on in the recent history of the club for its benefit there have been a lot of different sales of equity and things related to the club which has been done to survive.

“It isn’t going to be easy process but we’ve been in there from an early stage and we’ve done things calmly.”

There wasn’t a prouder man in Bolton than Holdsworth when he drove up to the club to survey his new kingdom on Friday morning.

“When I drive down the M61 to junction six and you see the lights it reminds me of the day I joined here in 1997,” he said.

“I’d come up from London and not really known what to expect. It was the first year the club had been in the Premier League.

“I still get that same feeling when I see the lights. I want to walk down the tunnel, round the offices, I can’t get on the pitch any more – which is a shame – but you get the same tingle.”

Holdsworth is quite capable of talking the talk; what he does next is crucial.

He has correctly pointed to the fact the Football League have passed his business plan, and that Davies and Birch both gave their blessing.

Unfortunately he has inherited a sceptical fanbase still scarred from the actions of those who had gone before.

Holdsworth deserves a great reception at today's game against Preston. His willpower to get this deal over the line has been nothing short of phenomenal.

But his team will need to prove that this deal was done for the right reasons and that, like the man at its forefront, it has longevity.