Bolton Wanderers' tough contract calls assessed - fan column

Bolton Wanderers play their final game of the season against Stevenage, but with nothing to play for it is a different feeling than that of the last two campaigns and how they ended.

So this week I thought I would look at each player out of contract and loan spells which are expiring, just to give my two cents on who could come back and who is a goner.

Ricardo Santos - Captain for a long period, 160 appearances in a Bolton shirt and for so long looked a cut above this level. Unfortunately, injuries just kept occurring and as the years went on he spent quite a considerable amount of time on the sideline.

Highlights would have to be leading Wanderers out at Wembley and lifting a trophy. For a man who grew up in the shadows of the historic stadium this was a nice story.

I genuinely have no bad words to say about Rico, I don’t think he comes back and I think it is best for all parties to seek a fresh start.

Gethin Jones - Alongside Santos and George Thomason, he has been here ever since Ian Evatt joined the club. You can remember all of the good times including that season in League Two, but you do feel the step up to League One for Geth wasn’t always the easiest.

Jones is another player out of contract this summer (Image: CameraSport - Dave Howarth) Jones gave his all, but he looked overmatched at centre back at this level and didn’t really have the pace to hold down a spot at wing back.

Think this one is a formality to be honest, with rumours in the past he was off to Australia, which would be a great move for him.

Nathan Baxter - This was a tough one because I do like Baxter and prior to this season I would have signed him to a new deal with no reservations. He said himself a couple of months ago he wanted to stay, but unfortunately the lack of stability between the sticks and Schumacher unable to commit to either him or Luke Southwood does not read well.

A great shot stopper whose build up play from the back and distribution holds him back. That shouldn’t matter for a keeper as much as it does, but that is the game of football in 2025.

I think Schumacher lets him walk. With his wage bill off the books it allows Wanderers to have some breathing room, albeit needing another body between the sticks.

Jay Matete - He showed glimpses of what he can do, with his main strengths carrying the ball through midfield, but he is not Paris Maghoma and has not had a big enough impact to justify staying beyond this year. I don’t think he comes back.

Alex Murphy - To be fair to the lad I don’t think his long term future is at left back, but his long term future is also not at Bolton so it’s a redundant point to our fanbase really. 

Kion Etete - The writing was on the wall for Schumacher this season when this was the marquee signing up front in January, aimed with making a run for the play-offs. One of the most ineffective and pointless loan spells I have seen, and that’s saying something.

Joel Coleman - Not a player I'd have confidence in as a backup for a League One outfit. He will be gone.

The bad and the good this season

by Lee Sidebotham

This season has not met expectation, we all know that, but that doesn’t mean it's not come without some great moments to look back on too.

There are a few games that come to mind when trying to pick the best away match I’ve attended this year. Arsenal was a personal highlight. I went into that game just wanting to see us score and despite being 3-0 down, that away end was rocking as soon as Aaron Collins got one back.

Huddersfield away was also one of the best atmosphere’s I’ve experienced in years. But come on, there’s only one winner here. Last month’s game against Wigan tops them all.

The win at Wigan was one of the season highlights (Image: CameraSport - Alex Dodd) For the worst away match, there are again a few contenders. Blackpool away was a typical Bolton derby day performance. Then Lincoln last week was a real kick in the teeth. But the 5-0 thrashing against Stockport last November came as a big reality check.

The best home game for me must be that Tuesday night clash against Birmingham. After months and months of watching us play the most boring football imaginable, it was like watching a brand-new team. For a club that’s set to finish on over 100 points this season, we played them out of the park. It also gave us the belief at the time that the comeback, and promotion was on.

The worst home match would have to be the Wycombe game just a couple of weeks ago. It was that match I think we all came to the realisation that the season was over, even if it wasn’t mathematically possible yet.

I think it’s ironic how our best home and away matches this year came in March and April, when our promotion bid truly collapsed after a run of poor performances. After beating Wigan away, we won just one game in six. We need to work on consistency next year and use the momentum from these victories to our advantage

Collins is one of the few positives to come from this season. I think he’s done extremely well to bag the number of goals he has considering the support he's rarely received, often being played out of position.

It would be harsh picking out a single player who hasn’t stepped up this season. I think most of the team will accept they haven't been at their best this year. But I think our defensive performances has had the biggest impact on results this season. From statistically the second-best defence in 2022/23, to one of the worst in recent memory.

In the summer, we need to have an overhaul of our defence both tactically and in the transfer market if we want to improve on this season and make a bid for promotion next year.