Despite still searching for our first win this season, your support has been unbelievable and constant throughout.
You have backed us home and away, and I know the lads are determined to pick up the points that will see us climb the table and repay your continued support and backing.
I believe this is only a matter of time. I thought we performed well against Sheffield United but we didn’t have the rub of the green; however, the hard work and endeavour was there for us all to see.
Sheffield United have had a decent start since they won promotion and have built upon some good performances with three successive victories but I think we are only one win away from finding the momentum that will see us go on a winning streak and climb the table.
We knew prior to kicking a ball in anger that this season in the Sky Bet Championship would be very challenging. You only have to look at the clubs who were relegated from the Premier League last term and the wealth of resources they have at their disposal.
Then, of course, you have the teams who are consistently pushing for promotion and have been established in this division for some time.
Finally, you’ve got another group of teams who are looking to consolidate and perhaps improve year on year.
In effect, as has been said by the manager, there are several mini-leagues within this league, and, as a team that won promotion last season, we must see ourselves in that latter group and we need to make sure we finish as high as we can in that mini-league. Anything else would be a bonus.
Like I mentioned earlier on, your support is crucial in helping us to overcome our challenging start to the campaign and I hope this continues throughout the season. Your cheering and backing towards the end of the match last night really lifted the players and encouraged them to give it their all.
There is no let-up in our schedule and we have two long distance trips coming up in quick succession. On Saturday we travel to Ipswich for another tough game before we have a break from the league with a Carabao Cup tie against Premier League West Ham United on Tuesday.
I know we will be backed by our wonderful, vociferous travelling fans and the lads will be giving it their all to get a positive result from each game.
These matches are taking a toll on the squad but fortunately a couple of our injured players will soon be returning to strengthen the squad.
I had the pleasure of meeting up with Alan Houghton and Rob and Stephanie Howell from the Bolton Wanderers Supporters Association prior to the game last night. We are very supportive of their work and efforts and we will be looking to help them. I would urge as many of you as possible to follow them on social media and to attend the social gatherings they have throughout the year.
Elsewhere, having seen the latest Bolton Wanderers Supporters’ Trust notification, I feel compelled to point out that I am very disappointed by the Asset of Community Value (ACV) situation we now find ourselves in. As you may recall, the Supporters’ Trust lodged this action with Bolton Council.
We are contesting the ACV as we believe it is fundamentally restrictive to the progress we are trying to make at the club. It could have a knock on effect for any refinancing of the club and/or the Hotel and the properties that were sold before my involvement, but that we are hoping to buy back in the near future.
As I said earlier, this whole process is wasting our valuable time and is eating into our cash reserves, which could be better used elsewhere in the business. We have so far had to spend in the region of £25,000 contesting this.
Hopefully, the Supporters’ Trust will see sense and not object to our appeal and save the club a great deal of cash and time, as well as the Trust’s funds.
I look forward to seeing many of you at Portman Road on Saturday and as usual let’s be loud, let’s be proud and let’s get behind the team.
Kind regards,
Ken