Sam Allardyce has ‘massive concerns’ over the future of Bolton Wanderers and fully understands why Phil Parkinson walked away from the club.
The in-crisis Trotters confirmed on Thursday morning they had accepted the resignations of boss Parkinson and assistant Steve Parkin.
In a statement, the club acknowledged the pair had been in charge during ‘one of the most challenging periods in the club’s existence’, which saw them guide Bolton to automatic promotion to the Championship while under a transfer embargo during their first season in charge.
They then beat the odds to keep the Trotters in the second tier in their second campaign, but could not prevent the club from slipping back to League One last term as Bolton’s financial woes grew.
Now they are in an ongoing ownership wrangle, with an attempted takeover by Football Ventures being blocked by a court order issued by Laurence Bassini, who had tried to buy the club earlier this year.
Their off-pitch woes have hit the team on the pitch, too. Bolton have started the new season on -12 points and were been forced to field a team full of youngsters in their first few games. That then led to Tuesday night’s game against Doncaster being postponed in the best interests of their young players after they were beaten 5-0 by Tranmere on Saturday.
And, speaking on Thursday’s Sports Breakfast, former Trotters boss Allardyce said Parkinson and Parkin simply just could not take any more.
“I can really understand why Phil and Steve have taken his decision, because they probably just couldn’t take any more,” he said.
“When you’re coming in under circumstances where the training ground was locked up over a lack of payments for portacabins – that’s what I believe – then there’s only so much you can take.
“And this hasn’t just happened, it has happened from day one for these two lads. They’ve just been stifled and strangled by the lack of investment in the club.”
Allardyce also took aim at Bolton’s two prospective buyers and their ongoing fight for ownership, saying they are ‘battling for assets instead of what’s best for the club’.
“I seriously have massive concerns for Bolton,” Big Sam added.
“There appears to be a battle between two administrators rather than a battle for what’s best for the club.
“People are fighting over assets like the hotel instead of actually fighting to keep Bolton alive and football on the pitch.
“They can’t seem to find anybody who has an appetite for football who would love to take the club forward.
“It’s very disturbing to see the club in such a difficult situation.”
