A note from the Chairman

Saturday’s game against Wolves will arguably be our toughest test of the campaign but one which we are all looking forward to.

They are riding high, playing consistently well and look dangerous, especially with that victory against Leeds United in midweek. They are on an unbeaten run of four games and have won seven of their last eight matches.

However, we have every intention of extending our own seven-game unbeaten run into an eighth game at Molineux and continuing the form that will hopefully take us out of the bottom three sooner rather than later.

I noted earlier in the week a story online which highlighted the spending of Championship clubs over the past five seasons, which has risen considerably high.

In 2013, the figure for the division as a whole was £36.7m while 2016 saw teams in our division spend a total of £242m. The figures are mind boggling and I have to wonder if they are sustainable.

That said, if you look at our opponents on Saturday, they spent £19,840,000 this summer on players and it is no coincidence that they up there at the top of the tree having reached 41 points in a very quick time.

A common theme from Tuesday evening’s Q&A session was about investment into the club which would take us onto the next level.

As you may be aware, I have been involved in a number of sales and acquisitions of football clubs in the past and a key aspect that investors look at is the infrastructure of the club; its stadium, commercial inventory, hospitality facilities, training ground etc.

The infrastructure at Macron Stadium is of a high Premier League standard and is one of the main reasons that attracted me and attracts interest from others to this club.

Compared to some of our peers, this is one area in which we are particularly strong and we have many visitors to the stadium who are blown away by what we have to offer.

However, investors and sponsors will consider the attendances figures and the stronger the support the more attractive any club will look when potentially considering making a significant long term investment.

It wasn’t that long ago when we were on a par and competing with the likes of Derby, Wolves and Leeds in terms of crowd numbers, and if we are to aspire to be at that level again we need our gates to increase to the levels the club experienced in the not too distant past. 

Concerts and prominent events at the stadium also play a major part in attracting investment. Events of this nature really put us back on the map as a multipurpose venue and I hope to be making further announcements about this shortly.

We have a fantastically loyal, hard core of supporters who turn up week in week out – and we are eternally grateful and appreciative of their passion - but as a football club we really need the town of Bolton and surrounding areas to come out in force and get behind their team. 

Like I have said on many occasions, not only will the extra numbers assist the team as they take on the opposition, but the additional revenue will be reinvested back into the football club to support the manager in the recruitment of quality players.

You all have an important role to play here and I sincerely hope you will all do your utmost to help us get back up there by supporting the club through thick and thin.

With the help of some loyal local suppliers and partners, we have recently renovated the first two of our executive boxes and they look exceptional and reflect the modern theme now being rolled out throughout the stadium and hotel, with other boxes following suit over the coming weeks.

They will be used for our matchday sponsorship packages and we will be announcing some further details next week. In the meantime, the Bolton Wanderers Sales Team can be contacted on 01204 673761 if you would like to discuss any of our hospitality or sponsorship packages.

I urge you to come along and view them as soon as possible as like all good things in life when they are gone, they are gone, so be first to get your name down and reserve your place.

The Festive Bundle and Half Season Tickets are now on sale and are a cost-effective way of showing your support for the manager and players as we head into a crucial phase of the season against some quality opposition. Please click here for more details on all our ticket offers.

Finally, with Christmas coming up we have a special Black Friday offer on at Bolton Central. If you spend over £50 on merchandise they will offer you free postage (UK only).

With the home shirts back in stock and a whole range of festive items, now is the ideal time to order your Christmas presents. Click here to browse our Christmas Store.

Kind regards,

Ken

 

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