Bolton manager Keith Hill says he believes the 'right decision' will be made for the club, when the EFL's appeal over Wanderers' recent punishment for the postponement of two matches earlier this year is held.

It was revealed last week that the club had been handed a suspended five-point penalty and £70,000 fine - half of which is also suspended - by an Independent Disciplinary commission looking into the postponements of home games against Brentford and Doncaster Rovers respectively.

The EFL quickly announced they will appeal that punishment, which they believe is 'too lenient', with Bolton then confirming that they are willing to contest the league's appeal against that punishment.

A new disciplinary panel is expected to meet to discuss the case at some point in the near future, although it is not yet known when the results of their findings will be announced.

Hill however, is keen to keep his attention on on-the-pitch matters, and when speaking to The Bolton News about the appeal, the Wanderers boss said: “I have no opinion on it – I’m just trying to focus in on the games.

“I won’t sit there and wait for what may eventually happen. I just want to focus on the 29 games that we have got remaining.

“I can’t persuade one way or the other. It should be factual – and they remain in the hands of the EFL, Bolton Wanderers and the panel.

“I am sure we will get the right decision for Bolton Wanderers FC.”

As things stand, Bolton are currently bottom of League One with one point to their name, having been handed a separate 12 point deduction at the start of the campaign for going into administration earlier in the year.

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It is thought that a number of other clubs in the league have pushed the EFL to contend for a stronger punishment to be handed to Bolton over those recent postponements, which could further hinder their chances of competing for survival this season.

The Verdict

I have a lot of sympathy for Hill here.

Given he wasn't even at the club when these two postponements took place, it does feel as though he is taking a lot of flak for something that was in no way his fault.

Indeed, with a number of Bolton's players and officials only arriving after the postponements, it almost feels as though any punishment the club are hit with will be being aimed at the wrong people.

That being said, it is worth noting that there were other clubs affected by what happened with these postponements, and you can understand why they will want to see some acknowledgement of the inconvenience they have faced as a result of the events at Bolton, irrespective of the impact it has on the Trotters themselves.