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Facing Liquidation, Bolton Wanderers -10000 Odds for England League One Relegation

John Dillon

by John Dillon in Soccer News

Updated Apr 7, 2020 · 10:13 AM PDT

A statue of heroic striker Nat Lofthouse outside the Bolton Wanderers stadium.
A statue of goal-scoring hero Nat Lofthouse stands outside the stadium of Bolton Wanderers. He hit the target 255 times for the historic club between 1946 and 1960 but now the team faces extinction or relegation from EFL League One. Photo By David Dixon (Geograph.org.uk) [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0">CC License]
  • Historic EFL club on brink of extinction amid financial chaos
  • Take-over could save them but staying up would still be a battle
  • Southend United already in major trouble in drop zone

Bolton Wanderers is one of the most historic teams in English football but they are facing the threat of extinction because of chaos in their business affairs off the pitch.

However, it is actually rare for clubs in England to go out of business. If they survive, the Wanderers are still likely to be relegated from the EFL’s League One.

EFL League One 2019-20 Relegation Odds

Team Odds
Bolton Wanderers -10000
Southend United +165
Accrington Stanley +175
AFC Wimbledon +200
Tranmere Rovers +350
Gillingham +400
Rochdale +400
Bristol Rovers +800
MK Dons +1200
Shrewsbury Town +1200

*Odds taken at 2019/08/27

At odds of -10000 for them to drop into League Two, there is little value on offer. But a calculated assessment of the situation could deliver some return.

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The best value bet for relegation from League One at present is Southend United at +165.

They have lost all five opening games after narrowly escaping relegation on the final day of last season. They are 22nd in the 24-team division. They have conceded 14 league goals already this season.

Rescued From Drop

Kevin Bond was appointed Southend’s temporary manager at the end of last season and rescued them from relegation.

But he has been unable so far in this campaign to make any inroads in dealing with the team’s problems and the weakness of the squad.

There is a crisis at the bottom end of League One, with Greater Manchester team Bolton’s near neighbors Bury also threatened with extinction because of their business troubles.

 

Bolton were first formed in 1874. They were founder members of the Football League in 1888

But the calculation regarding Wanderers must be that they will face an extremely tough remainder of the season if they do continue to operate – and are highly unlikely to stay up.

Bolton was first formed in 1874. They were founder members of the Football League in 1888.

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They began this campaign with a 12-point deduction in accordance with EFL rules regarding the fact that they had been placed in business administration.

This meant their affairs were under outside control to avoid bankruptcy.

One Point in Four Games

They have since earned only one point in four games, with the current league table showing their tally at -11.

Any attempt to catch up and simply reach zero points will be hugely difficult even if new owners take charge – particularly as the squad will be weak.

The team has been made up largely of youth section players while senior professionals have been unpaid because of the financial crisis.

They have lost their most recent two matches 5-0 against Ipswich Town and Tranmere Rovers. They are next due to face fellow strugglers Gillingham away from home on Saturday, August 31, at 10:00 am EST.

The manager, Phil Parkinson, has resigned with youth academy manager Jimmy Phillips taking temporary command.

A match against Doncaster Rovers in League One was called off because Wanderers had only five senior players available.

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The manager, Phil Parkinson, has resigned with youth academy manager Jimmy Phillips taking temporary command.

Take-over Deadline

The latest in a series of take-over attempts were said to be in place last week. However, it collapsed last Friday.

A deadline of 12 noon EST on Tuesday, August 27 was set for a take-over deal to be struck – or liquidation procedures could begin.

However, the administrator – the independent official placed in charge of attempting to make a take-over happen—said early on Tuesday that he was hopeful of “a positive outcome.”

Best League One relegation bet: Southend (+165)

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