When Eidur Gudjohnsen made it 2-0 inside 28 minutes of the first leg of last season's play-of semi-final against Ipswich, the young Icelander and Wanderers had the Premiership in their sights.

What followed in that Reebok game and in the return leg at Portman Road led to an exodus that robbed Bolton fans of some of their most exciting talent.

Gudjohnsen, inevitably, found his way into the top flight when Wanderers, desperately needing to sell to reduce their debts, accepted Chelsea's £4 million bid. Claus Jensen followed suit, another £4 million bid taking him to Charlton, where he was soon to be joined by Mark Fish.

But there were other significant departures. Keith Branagan and Bob Taylor had already cut their ties - both reluctantly - and had long gone by the time the play-offs came round but Michael Johansen, Allan Johnston and Paul Ritchie all figured prominently in that duel with Ipswich before that bitter and controversial second leg brought to an end their association with Wanderers.

Fortunately, and with the help of others, Sam Allardyce was able to persuade Gudni Bergsson to shelve retirement plans and to stay on for another year while club captain Mike Whitlow agreed a new deal.

But, within days of knocking on the door of the Premiership, the manager was scratching around in the lower divisions and sifting through the myriad of free transfers to bring his decimated squad back up to strength, numerically at least. This season's events have proved, once again, the manager's ability to see something in a player that other managers don't and, although it was a rushed job, he made some astute signings.

Predicament

He vowed at the time, though, that he would not put himself in the same predicament again - of spending the entire summer scouring the markets for players to fill key roles.

Yet here he is again. Another season is drawing to a nailbiting climax and half the team could be gone by the end of the month!

Bergsson, who has had another fantastic season, looks like calling it a day and going home to Iceland to launch his second career as a lawyer.

If he does, Wanderers will lose a great servant and an outstanding defender. But what of Dean Holdsworth, Paul Warhurst and Robbie Elliott? A trio of superbly talented, vastly-experienced players and not one of them at this point knows where his future lies!

All three have said they would be happy to stay at the Reebok but their current contracts end next month and, as yet, there is nothing on the table.

Being of Premiership quality - their collective fees total £7 million - they are among the highest paid members of the squad and, unless we have been seriously misled by warnings over the club's financial position, may prove too expensive to keep if Wanderers don't reach the top flight. Criticism of John O'Kane's attitude, which resulted in him serving a week's suspension imposed by Allardyce, has led to speculation that he may be on his way when his contract expires but it doesn't end there.

Once again the manager has put Wanderers into the play-offs with a handful of unlikely heroes he's had to beg, borrow and blend into a fighting force.

As with Ritchie and Johnston last year - initially arriving on loan - Ian Marshall was 'smuggled' into the squad after turning up at Euxton looking for somewhere to train, Nicky Summerbee arrived from Sunderland on a deal until the end of the season and Matt Clarke will be on his way back to Bradford unless Wanderers can muster the £1.5m asking price! Under the manager's 'horses for courses' squad rotational policy, they could all have a part to play as Wanderers' destiny is decided.

But none knows where it's going to lead them. Their success or otherwise will determine whether Allardyce spends the close-season renegotiating contracts and looking for more quality to add to a Premiership-bound squad or bidding farewell to trusted foot soldiers and turning his sights back to the bargain basements.