WANDERERS have cancelled their controversial pre-season game against Oldham Athletic after a backlash from supporters.

The club has confirmed that the game – scheduled to take place at Boundary Park on July 12 – has now been shelved.

The Bolton Wanderers Supporters Trust met with Wanderers CEO Neil Hart last week to discuss concern which had been voiced from fans of both clubs, leading to a U-turn over the weekend.

A short statement released this afternoon read: “Wanderers have called off their planned pre-season friendly at Oldham Athletic.

“The Whites were due to go to Boundary Park to face the National League side on Tuesday, July 12.

“However, we are mindful of the reaction of some supporters to the scheduled fixture and will now not be playing the game.

“Wanderers will make alternative arrangements to supplement game-time for Ian Evatt’s squad as they build up to the 2022/23 season.”

Oldham fans groups had called on Bolton fans to support their boycott of the game as they continue to lobby for owner Abdallah Lemsagam to sell the club.

Various demonstrations interrupted League Two games at the end of last season as the Latics were relegated from the Football League after 115 years – and it was expected that protests would take place outside the ground for Bolton’s visit.

“We would encourage fans of both Oldham Athletic and Bolton Wanderers not to attend this friendly fixture,” wrote independent supporters group, Push the Boundary. “We have both suffered from incredibly poor ownership in recent years and we would appreciate your support in sending a message loud and clear to the regime at our club.”

The BWFCST has welcomed the reversal, confirming that they had rasied the matter with the Bolton board.

"BWFCST did raise this very subject in a meeting with Neil Hart last week when the opposition to this fixture from both sets of fans was discussed.

"It is great to see opinions of fans being taken into consideration."

Push The Boundary have also responded with the following statement on Twitter: "We have campaigned for this behind the scenes and it’s great to know that the opinions of BOTH sets of supporters has been taken into consideration, and that the right decision has been made.

"Thank you to all parties involved. Again, fans have a MASSIVE part to play."