FOOTBALL was the last thing on our minds as we trooped down to face being relegated against the Villa.

The Doombar deliberations were all about yet another dramatic week in the life of Bolton Wanderers.

We started the week in group therapy with the Supporters Trust as we were staring down the barrel of Administration or worse on Wednesday.

Defender of the Year, Hilary Stonefrost kept another clean sheet against the HMRC, Mr Anderson admitted that he’d taken his bat and ball home in February and news of the club being sold to Mr Bassini emerged, subject to EFL approval.

There was a football match on, and Phil Parkinson shuffled the pack again and gave a well-deserved debut to one of our own, Harry Brockbank, at right back. We put up a spirited defence in the first half, despite injuries to David Wheater and Gary O’Neil but once Villa took the lead early in the second half, there was only ever going to be one winner. Once again, our goalie – Ben Alnwick this time – was our man of the match.

So, we are down but at least we don’t have to suffer the indignity of Blackburn sending us down today. We’ve set a record for the number of defeats by any Wanderers side in history. We’re getting our just dues for the mismanagement of our club, both on and off the field over the past 10 years. We might be down but we’re not out.

I met Mr Bassini on Thursday night and I believe we need to give him a chance.

The priority is to stabilise the club’s finances and he needs time to assess the full extent of the mess we are in.

Then he needs to come up with a plan to restore our fortunes on the pitch.

I told him I could see the pigs flying overhead when he said three years to the Premiership.

He needs to be honest and realistic with his targets. Then he needs to get the staff in place to carry out that plan.

I believe there are other people backing him and that he is going to appoint respected football people to help the cause. He’s certainly up for it and he respects the passionate nature of the Bolton fans.

I don’t know what the future holds but at least we appear to have one. Let’s go for it.