BOLTON Wanderers fans’ groups have announced plans to ‘walk out’ of the club’s upcoming televised home game with West Brom.

Several leading forums and websites have released a joint statement urging supporters to back their protest against club owner Ken Anderson.

A demonstration is to be held an hour before kick-off, followed by a mass walk-out in the 58th minute – a number which resonates with Bolton because of their famous 1958 FA Cup final victory over Manchester United.

Organisers have underlined their plans for peaceful protest and are encouraging as many fans as possible to attend the pre-match march and the game itself.

Wanderers are offering season ticket holders the chance to bring a friend for free.

The statement in full…

      The name of Bolton Wanderers has been dragged into the mud continuously in recent times.

This once proud football club has been subject to humiliation with winding up orders and failure to pay the wages of the players & staff.

The lives of non-footballing staff, as well as those who have moved to Bolton on the pretence of a long term career, have been messed about due the mismanagement of the club by Ken Anderson.

Considering all of this, we feel as if there is no other option than to organise a protest before, during & after the game against West Bromwich Albion on Monday 21st January.

In front of the Sky cameras, we need to voice our discontent.

This is our football club & we shouldn't stand idly bye and watch it disappear.

We have a long and proud 145 year history that needs to be preserved.

This is a call to arms. We need to take action to ensure that Bolton Wanderers football club is here to stay.

Enough is enough.

Signed, The Lion of Vienna Suite, Burnden Aces, Trotters Blog, Vital Bolton, The Burnden Way & the fans of Bolton Wanderers football club.

Anderson addressed the planned protest in his most recent set of web-notes, noting: “If these people think this is beneficial to the club then so be it.”

The Bolton Wanderers Supporters’ Trust has also called for a “dignified” show of action.

“We are aware of the protest being planned for the upcoming televised WBA game and are not at all surprised at this move to enable and express supporters' current views on the state of our club,” a statement read.
 
“We also fully understand that the BWFC supporters' growing concerns about the very future of the club are now turning into anger in light of the recent online and social media articles, posts and exchanges over recent days.
 
“As people will appreciate, we have attempted to engage Mr Anderson in meaningful dialogue during the whole period of his ownership of BWFC. However, as recently documented in his refusal to meet with us or consider our Memorandum of Understanding proposal, it has become crystal clear that Mr Anderson continues to be unwilling to engage in such a dialogue.
 
“It is sad that relationships between the owner and large numbers of concerned BWFC supporters have deteriorated to such a level that organised protests are now on the agenda. However, the current stance of the owner, allied to his reluctance to engage with the lifeblood of BWFC, the supporters, has now, somewhat inevitably, moved matters to this next phase.
 
“Whilst feelings are now running high, all we would ask is that any supporters intending to become involved in the protest use the opportunity to fully express their concerns in a loud and clear manner, whilst maintaining the dignity, respect and standing of BWFC that has been built up over all our lifetimes.
 
“In the meantime, the BWFCST will continue with our attempts to engage with the owner, whilst at all times having the long term sustainability of the club and it's remaining assets as the main focus.”