WANDERERS won’t allow disappointment to seep into their plans for next season if Steven Schumacher has anything to say about it.
The Bolton boss wants to draw a line in the sand this summer and ensure that none of his squad carry with them any confidence issues after missing out on their promotion targets.
It has been widely discussed around the club that the high-profile defeat against Oxford United at Wembley in the play-off final last May had a more profound impact than anyone envisaged at the time.
Midway through the campaign, former boss Ian Evatt described a “black cloud” which had been difficult to shift – and though Schumacher and his backroom staff did not carry with them the same baggage, the head coach is nevertheless aware of how damaging it could be to allow regrets to linger.
“I can’t say it affected me, what happened at Wembley against Oxford, I can’t speak about that because I wasn’t here,” he said.
“But I have sensed that people are disappointed we didn’t get into the play-offs and missed another chance to get out of the division. I understand that. From my perspective it’s head down, you can’t sulk about it. We are where we are and I’m a big believer that everything happens for a reason.
“Not getting in the play-offs gives us more time to recruit better and have a clearer picture of what is necessary. Doing that might have papered over a few cracks that were there.
“We didn’t do it, but I won’t sulk about it. We’ll come in on the first day of pre-season ready to go.
“This has happened to me before. I had 80 points at Argyle and missed the play-offs. Everyone was devastated, everyone said: ‘That’s them, they won’t compete next year.’ And we won the league.”
Schumacher is expected to spruce up his squad with several new signings this summer after and has asked fans to trust his judgement as he looks to emulate what he did with Plymouth two years ago.
Asked if fans should be confident about Bolton’s chances next season, he added: “It should be reassuring because there’s a person in place who knows how to get out of this division.
“Now, I have a good idea of the players who can help us next season in this squad and the ones we can bring in who can make the team play better and on a more consistent basis. That is what you need in this division.”
Wanderers have been credited with an interest in QPR goalkeeper Murphy Cooper, who spent this season on loan in League One with Stevenage, making 40 appearances, keeping 16 clean sheets, and winning the club’s young player of the year award.
QPR are though to see him as a future number one at Loftus Road so are currently not looking to sell him on a permanent basis, but reports suggest he could be sent back out on loan, with Bolton and Stevenage both keen.
Wanderers are expected to sign a goalkeeper option this season to compete with Luke Southwood and Luke Hutchinson for a place in the first team after releasing Nathan Baxter earlier this month.
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