Bolton Wanderers coach Julian Darby has opened up about the situation at the Trotters in an interview with the Bolton News.

Darby is currently coaching the Bolton youth team, a role which could see him and his players rise to prominence given the lack of professionals currently at the club.

It was a selection of his players that lost 1-0 in a friendly to York City at the weekend, a further chapter in their tough summer. With a takeover still raging on and a 12-point deficit to overcome, Bolton are struggling to keep their heads above water before the season has even started.

It's not the first time they've hit on hard times though. They slumped into the basement division in 1987/88, a team which Darby was part of as a player. He still feels that the current situation is unprecedented, despite being a part of that last troubled side.

“I’m not sure I’ve seen anything like this in my time at Bolton,” he said.

“There were times in the late eighties when we went down to the old Fourth Division and things were a bit hairy. There was no money about but we managed to get back up.

“I’ve never seen people go without pay like this in my whole career, though. I’ve been in football for 35 years and I have never seen anything like what’s happened. It must be soul-destroying."

He also revealed that plans are only being made 'day to day' behind the scenes as the takeover situation still lacks the clarity they need to move forward.

“We’re day to day at the minute. The manager speaks with the administrators, so you’d have to ask him where they are up to. I just try and get on with things, get out there on the grass and enjoy the training as best I can.”

The Verdict

The situation is incredibly troubling and from the inside looking out it must be bewildering. These are men trying to do a job but not being paid. However, they're expected to 'hang in there', fight for the club and hopefully put them on the right track.

Imagine going into work not knowing from one day to the next what the situation is. Young players are being asked to do the job of senior professionals and with the season less than three weeks away, they're no better off than they were at the end of the last campaign.

It's a long, dark road ahead for the Trotters and until they're given some inkling that a takeover is close to completion, there will be no let up in the struggle.