I READ in several of the Sunday tabloids a comment by Sam Allardyce made after the weekend victory over Barnsley.
Sam was quoted as saying he was disappointed with the atmosphere and support (or lack of it) the team was receiving.
Can Sam or our Board of Directors be surprised at the fans' response? We have been sold out from day one, when our views and opinions were sacrificed for the one thing -- greed.
The general opinion from the wide and varied fan base that I come into contact with is that a majority of Bolton fans didn't want the move to Horwich.
I cannot disagree that the stadium that we have now is a far superior ground and the facilities are second to none but a stadium that is constantly at the most two-thirds full and where fans are constantly abused by thugs masquerading as stewards and told constantly to sit down and shut up -- no wonder the real fans, myself included, are refusing to travel to the opposite end of town and pay high entrance prices in order to try to reduce the deficit that the club has incurred due to the unnecessary construction of a hotel.
The plot of land that was Burnden Park, now cleared, is quite clearly big enough to accommodate a new ground. What is really important to the Board -- the surrounding infrastructure and all the financial gains it brings with it?
I am a Bolton fan till the end and have followed the team even in the dark days of the fourth division but at least there was an atmosphere.
Who will forget Robbie Savage's goal, or the celebration at Wrexham that day?
I've no doubt that people will respond that the club has improved, or has had to over recent years but, in your heart of hearts, do you really think so?
I'm afraid that the matches that created such passion such as the cup games against Liverpool and Arsenal (and who can forget the play-off game over Wolves?) will never be repeated in the hollow and empty Reebok Stadium.
The casual support has gone. Children are swallowed up in the high-pressure, money-making business that is Manchester United PLC, and are desperate to be a part of it.
I feel sorry for Sam and the many Bolton fans who have the best interests of the club at heart but there is no light at the end of the tunnel.
In reality, is promotion to the Premiership really within our reach?
We have tried and failed where others have succeeded -- Bradford, Ipswich, Charlton.
So, congratulations to the board, Local Authority, Police.
You succeeded in driving the club out of the town centre and into the realms of mediocrity.
The 'glory days' have gone forever, lost to the 'suits' and to the 'money men' in the City.
Mark Schofield
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article