Bolton boss unlikely to ruin youngsters after late summer recruitment

Bolton Wanderers boss Keith Hill has said that he is unlikely to ruin the club’s youngsters following the late recruitment at the beginning of the month. The Trotters were on the cusp of being defunct after administrative concerns but they managed to avoid selling their assets following a late purchase of the club by Football Ventures.

Since then, there has been a raft of senior signings made to stabilise the club in League One and that is likely to demote the younger players, who featured for the side during the financial burden. Speaking in a press conference, Keith Hill acknowledged the youngsters were helpful during the time of distress and stated that the new and experienced signings will provide the added support to those players.

He said: "You could ruin a team of 18-year-olds with what's happened to them. They showed tremendous courage. It's time for them to be rewarded by the recruitment that we have done for support. I'm a big advocate of bringing young players through, I love developing players, but I need to be able to protect young players. They are at the stage now that they need protection and that means rest, recovery and a pat on the back."

Bolton were deducted 12 points at the beginning of the season due to administrative concerns and they have since managed just one point from the opening five matches. The Trotters return from the international break with a trip to Rotherham United and reports indicate that the supporters have almost covered the away section.

The Trotters had a squad filled with teenagers during the opening five league matches but things should be different for the upcoming weekend with the experience recruits purchased. Still, it won’t be a surprise, if some of the younger graduates are handed with the chance to impress with Keith Hill tending to favour the development of academy players.