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Savage or Couhig?

For those who like to believe in things like hope, here’s some fuel…

AARON Morley celebrated his return to Wanderers with a winning goal but admits he does not know what the future holds in the January transfer window.

The midfielder scored in stoppage time at Exeter City to seal three important points for the Whites in what was his first start for the club since last February.

Morley spent the first half of the season on loan with Wycombe, who still hope to bring him back to Adams Park in some fashion before the end of the month.

Wanderers have named their price for a permanent deal – but the Chairboys are yet to meet it, and have had one restructured loan offer rejected.

Morley wants to keep his foot down after one of the most productive spells of his career, regardless of which club he represents.

“I don’t have a clue what’s going to happen, I just want to keep my head down, keep playing football and you never know,” he said after the final whistle.

“I enjoyed my time at Wycombe but I am still a Bolton player. We just have to see what happens.”

Morley had scored the winning goal for Wycombe against Exeter on New Year’s Day, concluding what had been a successful spell in Buckinghamshire in which he played 23 times.

The 24-year-old got some ribbing on his return to Lostock on Friday but feels his time with the League One high flyers has done him well.

“I played every game, we were top two for the most of it. I have definitely benefitted from it, I am fitter and stronger and hopefully I can continue that,” he said.

“I has done me the world of good, I loved my time there. But I am back, and I want to enjoy my football.

“All the lads have been great with me, coming straight back in, backing me.

“And then for the fans singing my name after so long, it’s a great feeling.”

Morley admits he knew little about the winning goal at St James Park, a cross-shot which dropped into a crowded penalty box before bobbling into the net.

“I have to apologise to them (Exeter), I haven’t got anything against them, two winners in a few days is a great feeling.

“I actually didn’t see it drop in. there were about four people in the way and when it did go in I didn’t know if someone had got a touch to it, or if it was mine.

“It feels great. The gaffer chucked me straight in, I’m fit and I’m ready, so let’s hope we can back it up on Saturday now.”

Peterborough United have confirmed that a bid has been accepted for midfielder Joel Randall, which will see the 25-year-old leave London Road just a few months after signing a new long-term contract.

The identity of the club has not been confirmed but Wanderers had a £1.5million bid for Randall turned down in the summer and are known to be searching for an attack-minded midfielder in the January window.

Randall was left out of the Posh squad for their 1-0 defeat against Wrexham on Saturday. 

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/24833791.bolton-wanderers-aaron-morley-admits-wycombe-move-possible/

Transfer windows and their success cannot be judged on January 5th. The last January window we were struggling and needed the calvary, there was no queue of teams wanting our players. This January we want in, we want outs, teams want our best players. It’s 3D chess for the recruitment team. Someone makes a bid for a player at midday on the 31st we are stuffed. So I do find AH’s comments a bit off as he knows this. Ideally we would be done by now. No chance that will happen.

Is he still well connected though? There's been a lot of turnover at board and executive level so does he still know the people making the decisions? I genuinely don't know the answer

It is surprising to me that an owner and executives of a football team aren't that interested in having success on the field. This world is changing too fast for me.

Calm down folks! It’s January 6 and the transfer window doesn’t close till February 3. After Huddersfield tomorrow it’s eleven days before our next league game against Mansfield. We are 13 points clear of 7th place with a vastly superior GD.

Shouty ice cream seller is v much used to being in charge. Looks like he has been sidelined by the new order. And doesn’t like not being at the centre of things.

The long term strategy of the owners and their appointed team is building an academy upwards. The current league position is a ‘nice to have’ but not central to that strategy. From what I have seen so far Dan and his cohort won’t be distracted from their long term goal.

Which isn’t necessarily aligned to what we fans want / hope / expect.

They blew their budget

Just on a different topic to ice cream, should we assume by the fact Nathan Bishop appears to have not been recalled that he's staying with us till the end of the season? I can't imagine he's too happy not even getting in the squad when fully fit. It does seem a bizarre situation... Which makes me wonder whether Franco might be close to getting dropped and that's the reason he's sticking with us. I still can't get my head round how Bishop isn't even making the bench though given he appears to be better than George, albeit based on their few cursory appearances.

Just on the recruitment - if you're all crediting Scott Mitchell with the successes of the season then by that logic he's also responsible for Hartridge, Bakinson, Bishop and George. So a mixed record. I'm happy to be guided by Dan Rice's databases for at least one window.

On the speed of recruitment this window - we've only lost two players. They're both fantastic, but both could've been out with injury at any point just as easily. We've been crowing about our strong squad all season. This is the point where we utilise it... especially if we need to play the longish game bringing back Morley, rather than splashing the cash on a not quite as good replacement only to find he suddenly becomes available again in a week or two.