Keep or Chuck? What to do with our Out-of-Contract Players

As we approach the end of what has been a wretched season, Bolton Wanderers, in whatever form they may take, will soon begin the process of deciding which out of contract players they might wish to keep.

Granted, at the time of writing, the managerial position of Phil Parkinson is very much under similar consideration, but planting my white ass into his chair for a moment I’ve only gone and made the decisions for him.

Mark Little - Release

Hasn’t had many chances and is doubtful that he would want to stay at a club where he’s been so poorly treated regardless of whether PP stays on.

Andrew Taylor - Release

Definitely not good enough, even for League One. Too slow and too limited.

Mark Beevers - Keep, if the money is right

Highly, highly limited but that might not matter so much in League One.

Josh Vela - Release

If rumours of his bad attitude are true it should be a final nail in a coffin which has been pretty much firmly shut since his last appearance in February. At his age it might well be a good think to have a clean break and start again in League One or, more likely, League Two for a player who has flattered to deceive for the best part of his entire career.

Clayton Donaldson - Release

Not even a debate. Not good enough in any way whatsoever.

Will Buckley - Release

Two years into his Bolton career and we are still waiting for his first good performance. Hasn’t really been that disappointing given we expected him to be rubbish and he has definitely not exceeded that expectation.

Craig Noone - Release

Regularly a poor performer and someone who has never really shown what he is capable of, whatever that is.

Jack Hobbs - Release

Hasn’t really let us down but then again appears to be made of cheese and so therefore is deeply unreliable going forward.

Marc Wilson - Release

Another deeply disappointing signing from Parkinson and his merry men. Has been almost uniformly awful every time he’s stepped on the pitch in whatever position he has been entrusted with.

Gary O’Neil - Release

One of our better performers, but recent games have shown how he is struggling with the rigours of playing two (or sometimes three) games a week. We’ll need battlers next season and I think it might be, physically, a step too far.

Lloyd Dyer - Release

He might have even gone already, but nobody noticed.

David Wheater - Keep, if the money is right

Our best defender, in my opinion, but one who has struggled massively over the last two years. That said, in League One, I think Wheater could do a job as back-up to whoever our new centre halves are.

Joe Pritchard - Keep

Give him a crack. Can’t do any worse than the current lot.