SkyBet Predicts Wanderers Doom in 2016

As if Bolton Wanderers fans weren't down in the dumps and pessimistic enough about the season just gone, perennial doom-mongers SkyBet have just named us as the joint second favourites to be relegated from the Championship next season.

The slightly strange odds listings by the company that sponsors the league has Rotherham as firm favourites to take the plunge into League One, at 2/1. The Millers are closely followed by Bolton and Charlton Athletic - who finished last season in 12th position on 60 points, 19 clear of relegation - who both have prices of 7/2 to be relegated. Wanderers' relegation odds have increased dramatically from this time last year, when SkyBet offered a price of 12/1 for Bolton to finish in the bottom three.

Recently promoted sides Bristol City, MK Dons, who have never played at Championship level, and Preston North End, who will likely have the useless at Championship level Jermaine Beckford up front, are all listed at 4/1 to be relegated at the first attempt, alongside Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield Town and Leeds United.

Anyone who fancies seeing Burnley following in the footsteps of Wigan and joining the pie eaters in League One - wouldn't that be nice - can get tasty odds of 20/1, alongside Hull City.

Yet another exodus of senior players certainly won't fill Wanderers fans with optimism that the side can defy these odds, and it remains to be seen how Neil Lennon will go about rebuilding the squad over the next few months. The facts are that we currently have one goalkeeper, who looks set to leave the club on a free transfer, and two fit strikers who have a combined age of 73, although hopefully Zach Clough will be back fit in time for the new season.

Are these odds simply further proof that Sky hates Bolton, or are we really doomed to relegation next season?