Bolton Wanderers have confirmed that the club's pre-season friendly versus Oldham Athletic has been called off after taking account of the reaction of some supporters to the planned game.
Wanderers were due to head to Boundary Park on Tuesday, 12 July, for a 7.45pm start to face John Sheridan’s side which is gearing up for a first season in the National League. The Latics were recently relegated from League Two.
The Latics were relegated from the EFL for the first time in their history this campaign. It followed a home defeat in April to Salford City which was completed behind closed doors after supporters protested on the pitch against the club's owners.
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Wanderers had announced the friendly against the Latics as part of a first tranche of pre-season fixtures for the upcoming 2022/23 campaign. The Whites are due to return for pre-season training on June 17, before jetting out to Portugal for a training camp a few days later on June 19.
The Whites will begin their pre-season prep with a clash at Longridge Town on Tuesday, 28 June, the same way they began ahead of the 2020/21 campaign, with a 7.45pm kick-off. Wanderers then go to Chorley on Saturday, 2 July for their traditional pre-season game at 2pm.
Wanderers will travel to Brunton Park to take on League Two Carlisle United on Saturday, July 16, for a 3pm kick-off. The club's final pre-season friendly is against National League North outfit Southport on Tuesday, 26 July, with a 7.30pm kick-off – four days before the start of the EFL campaign.
More friendly fixtures are set to be announced. This includes for both the first team and the soon to be established B team.
Wanderers have now issued a statement on the planned friendly fixture versus the Latics and confirmed it has now been shelved. The decision has been taken in light of the reaction of some supporters to the news, which was clear on social media and opposed it taking place, and alternative arrangements will now be made.
A Wanderers club statement read: "Wanderers have called off their planned pre-season friendly at Oldham Athletic. The Whites were due to go to Boundary Park to face the National League side on Tuesday, 12 July.
"However, we are mindful of the reaction of some supporters to the scheduled fixture and will now not be playing the game. Wanderers will make alternative arrangements to supplement game-time for Ian Evatt’s squad as they build up to the 2022/23 season."
