After the revelations about costs in the Premier League, matters are more mundane in the lower leagues, where most teams live on the edge. Bolton Wanderers are spending a lot of time looking at the books. Now demoted to the Championship, they have immense debts and this summer there will be a mass exodus of players — almost all for money reasons. One of those probably leaving will be goal-keeper, Jussi Jaaskalainen. He has been with Bolton for 15 years, has played 529 games and has been a great servant of the club — saving them from many an embarrassment. But now he is 37 years old and after an injury at the end of last year, his place was taken by young Adam Bogdan. Jussi has not been able to get back into the side and negotiations on a new salary deal have not looked promising — presumably on the basis that he will be second string goal-keeper in a Championship club. I would like him to stay because of his record and vast experience but all the signs are that he will go to West Ham and back to his old manager Sam Allardyce. Sam has been well served by players brought into the West Ham side who were former players at Bolton Wanderers. So Sam takes West Ham back into the Premier League as Bolton Wanderers — whom he took into the Premier League 11 years ago — sink back down to the Championship. I think Bolton will struggle with a shortage of players and money and, I have to say, I am not over-confident about the abilities of the manager, Owen Coyle.
Still Jussi Jaaskelainen is still a good goal-keeper — and goalies last a long time — and I wish him luck in a new career with the Hammers.
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