Bolton Wanderers' Released Players Analysed

On Friday, Bolton Wanderers announced that no fewer than 21 players will be departing the club upon the expiry of their contracts on June 30th.

Here are my thoughts on the players that have been allowed to depart, be it for financial reasons or because the infinitely wise powers that be at the club simply thought they wouldn't make it.

Goalkeepers

Paul Rachubka

Utterly useless deputy to Ben Amos, who shipped six goals at Bristol City. Good riddance.

Harry Campbell

Has been on the bench when Amos was absent through injury / suspension, but never made a first-team appearance. Given how awful Rachubka was, it would have been nice to see Campbell given a go, especially as he had impressed in the youth teams.

Ross Fitzsimmons

Like Campbell, Fitzsimmons has made the bench a few times but never made a first-team appearance since joining from Crystal Palace two summers ago. The departure of all three backup goalkeepers leaves us with just Amos as an option between the sticks outside of the Under 18s squad.

Defenders

Oscar Threlkeld

Threlkeld was among our better players in the end of season clash at Fulham, dealing well with the little and large strike combo of Matt Smith and Ross McCormack, and impressed since his return from Fulham. Personally, it beggars belief that we've let him go without even offering him a contract. Rumour has it (according to his girlfriend) that Threlkeld only found out he was being released on Twitter which, if true, is appalling.

Niall Maher

Another young player who's impressed since making his debut against Reading in April. Yes he got sent off for a silly challenge against Cardiff, but I'm pretty sure he would have had something to offer in League One and I'm certain someone else will snap up both him and Threlkeld.

People will point to the club needing to save money, but it seems likely that Maher nor Threlkeld would have broken the bank wages-wise. Their departures leave us with just one right-back and two dodgy centre-backs, so we'll have to bring in replacements that will likely cost us more money. Letting both these guys go just doesn't make any sense to me.

Hayden White

Played well on loan at Blackpool this season, and never really given a chance by Bolton. Has already signed a deal with Peterborough United, who will be a better team than Bolton next season, so fair play to him.

David Wheater

Has been one of the few Bolton players to give an ounce of effort and look like they actually care this season. It's a shame to see him go, but realistically we can't afford to retain him in League One.

Quade Taylor

Captained the Development Squad last season and made his debut in the last game of last season but failed to follow-up on that this campaign. Probably the right decision to release him, even if we now have a total lack of centre halves.

Yvan Wassi

Arrived at Bolton from Manchester City but never threatened a first-team place.

Midfielders

Liam Feeney

Probably our best player until he left for Ipswich Town on loan in March despite dividing supporter opinion, and the writing was on the wall that he would leave at the end of his contract. Will probably earn a Championship deal for next season, and good luck to him.

Rob Hall

The numbers behind his deal from West Ham are a staggering example of the financial mess that the previous board lumbered the club with. Hall has barely worn a Bolton kit but played well for MK Dons this season, and will likely get a deal with a lower Championship / League One club next season.

Neil Danns

Has been a good servant for the club and more often than not been a reliable, solid midfield option. At 33, it's the right decision to allow Danns to move on.

Stephen Dobbie

Mainly figured as a substitute this season and scored a couple of important goals, but then there's always THAT miss late on in the defeat against Cardiff in December. Won't be missed.

Jon Ceberio

Arrived at the club last summer from Real Sociedad, and featured for the Development Squad but hasn't threatened a first-team breakthrough.

Jordan Lussey

Joined Bolton on loan towards the end of the 2014/15 then signed permanently last summer. The Liverpool academy product, 21, has hardly pushed for a first-team call-up, so moving him on was probably the best option.

Channing Campbell-Young

The east Londoner, who was London's triple jump champion as a youngster, arrived at Bolton via Tottenham Hotspurs' academy but failed to impress enough in the youth teams to warrant a professional deal.

Forwards

Emile Heskey

He's 38, slow and can barely move on a football pitch - and has only scored three goals in 45 appearances for Bolton. Heskey shouldn't have stayed on last summer, let alone starting the last five games of this season.

Jamie Thomas

This decision attracted a fair amount of outrage on Twitter, but realistically Thomas has fallen behind the likes of Alex Samizadeh and George Newell in the pecking order. He's made a few match-day squads but not been called upon by the manager, so he can't be as good as we all want to think he is. Fans can think what they like about Thomas, but he hasn't done enough in the Under 21s this season to warrant a professional deal this summer.

Tom Eaves

Has amazingly been at Bolton for six years, making just four first-team appearances and being loaned out on six occasions. He scored six goals in ten games at Shrewsbury in 2013 but offered very little since then and only scored once in nine games for Bury in his most recent loan spell. More than overdue being released.

Chris Cvetko

Not threatening a first-team breakthrough so wasn't likely to get a new deal.

These departures leave Bolton with just 20 first-team players, with more big earning players - ideally Darren Pratley being the first - almost certain to follow them through the exit door over the summer.