Sporting director Fergal Harkin believes Wanderers are on the “right track” following three successive wins.
Steven Schumacher’s side are on the fringes of the play-offs thanks to the dramatic late victories against Huddersfield and Cardiff. They also progressed in the FA Cup at the weekend.
Harkin has been pleased with the performance levels since the start of the campaign, but admitted there have been some frustrating results where the Whites arguably deserved more.
“We have been really happy with the performances. Over the 14 league games now, they have been excellent,” he told The Wanderers Way Podcast.
“Some of the results, we were disappointed with – particularly the draws that we know we should have won.
“But what we are doing on the pitch is right. We wanted to show a brand of football that is high energy, that would create a lot of chances, that we’re tight at the back, that the players show commitment.
“Some of the results, we have been frustrated with but I can’t fault the performances because I think the players and the staff have given everything so far.”
The Irishman has also been encouraged by the brand of football on offer from Schumacher’s new-look squad after a busy summer on the transfer front.
“I love watching wingers,” he said. “For me, it was important to understand the brand and type of football that Bolton Wanderers fans want.
“When the team has been successful in the past it has been wingers, attacking, that is what we tried to provide. Schuey and I are on the same page so it makes it easier.”
Big spenders Birmingham ran away with the league last season but so far it doesn’t look like this term will be a similar story. Only six points separate leaders Stockport and eighth-place Mansfield at the time of writing.
“The league is extremely tough,” Harkin insisted. “The points difference is minimal, there are some huge teams in there who have good squads and have spent money.
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“But let’s just focus on us. Are we playing well? Yes. Can we pick up some more points based on performances? Yes. But I think we are on the right track, we are in the mix and we can get better.”
The sporting director, who joined the club earlier this year, also gave an insight into the process behind signing players.
Harkin hailed the impact of head of recruitment Jimmy Dickinson, who previously worked with Schumacher at Plymouth, and revealed that Wanderers won’t sign a player without agreement from all three.
“We had a philosophy at the start that every player we sign, the three of us have to agree on it,” he explained.
“If Jimmy is agreeing, it is because the scouts have recommended it and he is on board with that. Then Schuey and myself. If it is two out of three, the player tends to not come.
“In my position, I can’t bring a player into a club that the manager is not backing. He is not going to play.
“If I really don’t believe in a player the manager is pushing, for the sake of the club I have to stop that coming in by presenting better options. It can be interesting conversations, but we all trust each other which is the best thing.”
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