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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
John McDougall

Cheltenham Town boss Michael Duff's claim about Bolton Wanderers' fortunes for next season

Michael Duff is sure Bolton Wanderers will be 'there or thereabouts' next season in League One and bounced back well after suffering relegation just a few seasons ago.

Wanderers travel to Gloucestershire to take on Duff's Cheltenham Town side this Saturday in the final away day of the season for Ian Evatt's side.

The two teams were promoted out of League Two last season and both are poised for a midtable finish, with Wanderers potentially being in the top 10.

READ MORE: Cardiff City stance on Bolton Wanderers Dapo Afolayan interest & summer transfer link revealed

Duff is impressed with what he sees at Wanderers and believes it is a similar story to last season with the strength of their January recruitment where they brought in the likes of Dion Charles, Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, Kieran Sadlier and Aaron Morley.

The Robins boss felt Wanderers would have won the League Two title has last season gone on for longer and believes Evatt's side are capable of being at the top end of League One next season.

Duff told GloucestershireLive : "They recruited heavily in January and they've been on a good run since then. They are unbeaten in six, they've had three defeats since January.

"They are a big, big team in this league. Look at the players who aren't in the team. You have full internationals coming off the bench, which shows the strength in depth, even with the injuries they do have as well.

"In terms of their squad, it's very good. They did the same last year, an average start, but the reason they got promoted is because of the recruitment in January and then they went on an unbelievable run.

"If the season had been any longer, they'd have probably gone on to win the league, the run they were on. That's resources, good players and a manager that as a way of playing and the players have bought into it.

"I played against Bolton in the Premier League and I didn't retire that long ago. At the time, we were mid-table in the Premier League and our manager (Owen Coyle) left to go to Bolton because it was a bigger club.

"That was only 12 years ago, so it shows you the size of the club, the fanbase and historically they are what they are. Look at the stadium, they have everything geared up.

"They have addressed the rot they had and they must have had one to end up in League Two. They have bounced back at the first opportunity, they have stabilised this year and I have no doubt they'll be there or thereabouts next year."

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