A look into a parallel universe that sees Bolton taken over by Kazakh billionaire ‘Heskeyanovic’
During the international break, there are very few newsworthy events that take place at a club like Bolton Wanderers. Ten years ago, during the club`s golden years that might have been different. Nowadays the lads will train and recuperate after a disappointing few weeks since the last international break. The most excitement we`ll see is Neil Danns heading off to play for Guyana, or Medo crawling out of the wilderness to play for Sierra Leone.
It is during these times, where despite every effort to find something interesting going on at Bolton, we begin to drift off and imagine. I found myself dreaming about a parallel universe. A parallel universe in which unthinkable things happen. Here, Kazakh billionaire, and football fanatic, “Heskeyanovic” has stumped up £30 million, and strolled into the Macron Stadium. After exchanging keys with Eddie Davies and Phil Gartside in the car park – Gartside`s deal to sell the car park fell through so the club till own it – Heskeyanovic is ready to turn Bolton around.
Heskeyanovic made his fortune thanks to his share of Kazakhstan`s extensive uranium resources, used in nuclear power plants worldwide. Heskeyanovic plans to create a sporting empire similar to that of the Fenway Sports Group. Bolton is his first step to that goal. In his first press conference he tells us he wants to be open with fans, throw money at the club in a sustainable way, whilst backing local talent. A local journalist, Mick Oles live tweets the press conference, it`s exactly what we all want to hear.
After this excitement, things settle down as we realise there`s nothing we can do with our money in the middle of November. Neil Lennon works his magic up until January 1st, leaving the Whites all the way up in 17th position going into the window.
Not everything will happen as it did in my parallel universe, but there is a possibility, though not likely to happen soon, where someone takes us over after meeting Eddie Davies` £30 million evaluation. If that did happen and we had a more substantial amount to spend across wages and transfer fees (not counting agents fees and all the other rubbish), say £6 million, Neil Lennon would be in dreamland.
That`d give us a split of £3.5 million to spend, with £48,000 per week on wages depending how you want to split wages and transfer fees. In football these days, that amount of money is relatively little, but to us that would change the path we are on, in a dramatic way.
The first thing I would do is sign Clough, Clayton and Vela on 5 year contracts. I don`t care how big of a chunk it would take out of the budget, it`s important to have those young exciting players who the fans love, and know that they will play for the shirt. From a business point of view it also ensures we`d get a sizeable transfer fee if any of the three go on to outgrow the club.
Wellington Silva and Prince have both proved valuable loan signings. I`d certainly try to sign them on permanent deals, though Arsenal might want more than we can afford for Silva.
After that, there probably wouldn’t be much left to spend, but I`d give Cardiff their £1 million to bring in Le Fondre, then sign a new goalkeeper so we don’t have the embarrassment of having Paul Rachubka on our books.
Even at that stage I`m not sure how competitive we`d be in the Championship. In reality, we need to improve across the park in, and increase our squad size. At that stage promotion would be realistic within a few seasons, right now that is not the case.
If we had the money, who would you like to see us bring in? Who would you like to see signed on a long term contract? Tell us in the comments.