Wanderers are planning to pump up the volume at the Reebok for the promotion run-in. Desperate to turn the tide of events that have seen hopes of a top two slot fade over the past month, club officials are determined to create an atmosphere that will inspire their players and intimidate their opponents in their four remaining home games.

And, as part of the strategy, they are urging all supporters to be in their seats and not in the bars when the teams stride onto the pitch.

"We are trying to fire things up," chief executive Des McBain confirmed. "We've used the Superman theme and War of the Worlds to try to build up the atmosphere as the teams come out but it's difficult when, at five to three, the stadium looks half empty because so many supporters are still down on the concourses. "It's a question of getting the right balance. The caterers want the supporters at the bars as long as possible but we want them in their seats when the teams come out.

"We're going to have to find a way of warning them that the players are on their way."

Recent experiences at Birmingham and Sunderland, plus memories of visits to Wolves, have given Wanderers a measure of the inspirational qualities that could make the difference between success and failure.

What they wouldn't give now for the old Burnden Park atmosphere! There's no doubting that the magnificent Reebok is a stadium Bolton fans can be proud to call home. At £35 million it is justifiably regarded, size for size, as one of the finest in Europe.

It's precisely what it was intended to be but, having seen the 42,000-capacity Stadium of Light packed to the rafters, you're left with a distinct comparison - Wanderers have built an 'architectural statement' - Sunderland have built a football ground!

It's too late to change the stadium, which was designed to 'bounce' noise off the stand roofs and back down to pitch levels. But they can can turn up the volume, select rousing music and urge supporters to provide a lung-busting finale to the season.

"Sunderland did it superbly and the atmosphere Birmingham built up was impressive too," Mr McBain added.

"We've got to be looking at doing the same but, believe it or not, we have turned up the volume and we actually had complaints."

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