MX23RW : Friday, November 8 05:51:35| >> :120:57174:57174:

Sam Allardyce questions decision to postpone Bolton match against Doncaster

The former Trotters boss believes the club's youngsters would have benefited from playing Doncaster on Tuesday.

Former Bolton manager Sam Allardyce has questioned the club's decision to postpone their League One match with Doncaster.

The Trotters pulled the plug on their fixture at just 24 hours' notice due to welfare concerns for their young squad, who have been thrust into senior action amid the off-field problems at the club.

Wanderers are awaiting the completion of a takeover by Football Ventures which had been blocked by a court order issued by Laurence Bassini, who had tried to buy the club earlier this year.

Boss Phil Parkinson named the youngest team in the club's history in their goalless draw against Coventry on August 10, and saw his side thrashed 5-0 at Tranmere on Saturday.

And a statement issued via the club's administrators said making the youngsters play again on Tuesday night "would be detrimental to both their welfare and development".

But Allardyce, who managed Wanderers between 1999 and 2007, believes their baptism of fire might help them in the future.

He said on talkSPORT: "The levels of fatigue will be quite high because they are playing at a level they have never played before.

"A crushing defeat at Tranmere would be mentally quite tough on them but when you have to grow as a player and a professional, things like this make you or break you and to stop them playing is a big blow for Bolton Wanderers, having overcome some real problems.

"It will put the focus back on them by not playing a fixture that they should have played and I think that is a real shame.

"They got a team on the pitch and they were playing and they got huge praise for the draw they got at home against Coventry, 0-0.

"When you have got the opportunity to play first-team football, which they never expected, then it would make them stronger and better players much, much quicker by this experience, even though it was a bad one.

"If they had enough players they should play the game, if they didn't have enough players then that is a different story.

"The welfare of what is my concern. There are mental strains but that is what you have to conquer as a footballer and if you are good enough you're old enough."

ID:368651: cacheID:368651:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3421:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
General view of Bolton Wanderers' University of Bolton Stadium taken 2016
Read Next:
Bolton postpone Doncaster clash due to concerns over young squad's welfare
>
Read more about Sam Allardyce Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
1.15am
Bengals
@
Ravens
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Wycombe WanderersWycombe1392231161529
2Birmingham CityBirmingham1292123111229
3Wrexham1374221101125
4Mansfield TownMansfield127322014624
5Lincoln CityLincoln137332016424
6Bolton WanderersBolton137242219323
7Huddersfield TownHuddersfield137151912722
8Barnsley136432118322
9Reading137152120122
10Stockport CountyStockport145632017321
11Exeter CityExeter126151310319
12Charlton AthleticCharlton135441514119
13Peterborough UnitedPeterborough145362526-118
14Rotherham UnitedRotherham144551416-217
15Stevenage145271015-517
16Blackpool134452125-416
17Bristol Rovers135171520-516
18Northampton TownNorthampton134361720-315
19Wigan AthleticWigan133551211114
20Leyton Orient133281118-711
21Crawley TownCrawley143291225-1311
22Cambridge UnitedCambridge123181117-610
23Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury1422101325-128
24Burton Albion130581325-125


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!