Deadline Day Reaction

It was a day which started off with many rumours and, amazingly, they all seemed to be true.

I was reading through every scrap of news I could find concerning Bolton Wanderers on Wednesday morning and the names Gedion Zelalem and Keshi Anderson cropped up. I had heard good things about the young Arsenal midfielder but next to nothing about young Anderson, apart from his brief, albeit successful, loan to Doncaster last season where he scored 3 goals in 7 games.

It would set the tone for the day as more rumours circulated that we were in for Wolverhampton Wanderers wide-man, James Henry (a signing I was desperate to see happen) and Peterborough United goalkeeper, Ben Alnwick (another I was happy about given he's consistent form at this level).

At one point madness descended as we were informed by Marc Iles that our resident goal machine, Gary Madine, could be off to Rotherham United, with versatile defender, Tom Thorpe, heading the other way.

Cue outrage on Twitter and at LOV Towers as it appeared that we would be left with only Jamie Proctor and Conor Wilkinson in the striking department. Thankfully, the Madine rumour was rubbished by reporters in Yorkshire but the Thorpe link still had credence.

However, the issue remained that there had been next to nothing in terms of actual outgoing transfers.

That changed with Tom Walker's move to Bury being mentioned as a possibility and news that Kainye Woolery would be off to ex-Bolton player retirement home, Wigan Athletic. However none of this was confirmed until around 9 o'clock when, finally, the Wanderers Twitter account finally broke some news, and it was met with jubilation all over Bolton Twitter. Completely out of no where, we had managed to bin off Conor Wilkinson, who had joined Chesterfield on loan until January.

Soon after Tom Walker's season long loan was confirmed, and then the floodgates opened.

It was then a nervous wait to see when the incomings, which we had been told were nailed on to be Anderson, Alnwick and Henry, would be announced.

Said announcement came at 10 o'clock with the surprise but welcome addition of Sammy Ameobi, brother of former Wanderer Shola. Woolery's departure to Wigan followed just before the deadline and while we were made to wait for the arrival of Tom Thorpe, it arrived just before Midnight. 5 in and 3 out: but how did we do?

Deadline Day Signings:

I am over the moon with the signings of Henry and Ameobi because we needed some options out wide but also they have good Championship pedigree which, for me, will see them do some damage in LeagueOne.

Henry especially excites me, he has shown against us in the past that he has real quality with two great goals in two seasons and, despite them signing only until January, I am sure they will really help the cause.

We needed a backup goalkeeper and Alnwick is a good one for me at this level. He could even dislodge Howard from first choice in time.

We have both Anderson and Thrope for the whole season and I think young Keshi will be an asset given his success with Doncaster last year. Parkinson had Thorpe briefly at Bradford last year so he must have done something right for him to be brought back.

Overall I am very pleased with how our business went in terms of incomings and we strengthened where we needed to. Given our injury list this was vital and a good job was done.

Deadline Day Departures:

Wilkinson had to go and I will be in the majority who thought he simply wasn't good enough. It is great business to offload him, especially to a division rival given that we have probably managed to hurt them by doing so.

With Walker it's different because he could be quite good in the future but he hasn't had enough experience to prove this as of yet. At Bury he will be looked after and stay local so it looks to be more good business all round.

Woolery is the point of contention as many fans, me included, were disappointed to see him sacrificed let alone sent to Wigan Athletic. He was our only pacy player (until we brought in Anderson, Ameobi and Henry) and a decent finisher who I think would have been useful this year. However it wasn't to be and given the players we have brought in I am not going to complain.

The issue of course is that he has gone permanently while the replacements are only on loan yet I think the here and now is more pressing for Bolton and it is those coming in who have a better chance of getting us up than those leaving.

All in all I think those behind the scenes have done Bolton proud and the signings we have made will not only add depth but thoroughly improve us straight away. Well done lads on making Deadline Day exciting and very fruitful this year.