AT the beginning of this season I couldn't see the Super Whites stretching themselves further than mid-table at best, but as all Wanderers fans know, league stability isn't an option here writes Steve Abbott

There is little doubt that the last two inches of seat is all most Bolton fans use, promotion or relegation has been the recipe for the last ten years and I can see very little changing in the near future.

The emergence of Gartside after Hargreaves signalled the start of a more hands-on approach to directorship and his decision to appoint Big Sammy fuelled the present phenomenon - a promotional push without solid cash! Allardyce is an extremely hard character to nail down (try working out his team selection pre-match!) except for the fact that he accepts nothing less than 100 per cent in endurance and hard work coupled with the skill and determination.

No living Wanderers fan has witnessed the club beat the Barnsley on their home soil, or seen fourteen away victories, a testament to Allardyce's perseverance in the face of mounting debts and having to sell players with only farmed out replacements for compensation.

Success

I regard this season as a fantastic success no matter what the outcome, but there is little doubt that the loss of Jaaskelainen was the catalyst for our present woes. After his injury, Wanderers went into semi-decline and the defence in particular folded under mounting pressure.

But the worst mistake this season, in my opinion, was to put a scratch side out against Blackburn in the FA Cup. If we had won that game, I'm sure we would have taken the psychological edge and the following Friday night could have seen the Rovers playing the catch up football.

In the play offs there's still twists and turns to come, and if Wanderers can make it up to the big league I'm sure Big Sam will give us the stability other managers haven't been able to provide.

Where the money to finance the venture will come from only time will tell, but the seeds are set for Bolton Wanderers to finally emerge from the cocoon placed upon them in the early sixties and enjoy longevity in top flight football again. Let's hope more people in the town realise it and come to the games more often.

Man of the Season

DEAN HOLDSWORTH

KEPT going when most doubted him. Top man for proving them all wrong Deano.