OLDHAM fans group Push the Boundary (PTB) have sent a message of thanks to Bolton Wanderers for shelving plans for a pre-season friendly at Boundary Park.
The July 12 game was axed yesterday following considerable backlash on social media and representations made to the board by the Bolton Wanderers Supporters’ Trust.
PTB had called for a boycott of the game by fans of both teams as a show of solidarity against their ongoing dispute with Latics owner, Abdallah Lemsagam, and the club’s current hierarchy.
Their plea was backed by a large number of Bolton fans – some of whom said they would pass on their ticket money to the Oldham Athletic Supporters’ Foundation, who are currently trying to raise enough money to buy back the stadium.
The prospect of protests outside the ground, or potential disruption during the game prompted Wanderers to re-think their plan, and an alternative fixture list has now been arranged.
PTB conveyed their thanks via The Bolton News on Monday evening, saying the reversal was a significant show of strength from both sets of fans.
“We think that the decision to cancel the friendly is a huge result for supporters and shows the influence collectively that we have, and we have to take that forward,” the message read.
“The actions of the club have led them to this point and it is great for a Football League club with the history that Bolton have to choose to cancel a friendly fixture on the back of supporter input.
“This emphasises that we will not give up in the fight for our club.”
Wanderers have announced two more warm-up games at Atherton Colls on Wednesday, July 13 (7.45pm) and Bamber Bridge on Tuesday, July 20 (7.30pm).
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