Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony has lashed out at the situation around Bolton Wanderers, claiming the EFL could be left open to lawsuits at the end of the season.
Speaking to the Peterborough Telegraph, MacAnthony alluded to the fact several of the top teams in the division had beaten Bolton’s youth team earlier in the season, whilst others have had to face their stronger, better side.
The same can be said of teams at the bottom, with Gillingham and Tranmere both registering big wins against the youthful outfit, with other relegation candidates yet to face the Trotters, who moved into positive points for the season yesterday.
“If Wycombe or Ipswich win promotion by a point over teams who didn’t play against Bolton’s youth team it will be wrong,” said MacAnthony, whose Posh side are also in the hunt for a Championship spot.
“The EFL have potentially opened themselves up to lawsuits. The Bolton team is now stronger, they will be well-coached by a top manager and they will be backed by a brilliant fanbase. The league didn’t handle the situation well.”
Daryl Murphy’s late goal for Keith Hill’s side ensured another win for them in League One yesterday. He bagged three minutes into injury time after MK Dons had a man sent off and played the final 25 minutes with fewer players.
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Sadly, we’re going to hear this narrative more and more over the coming months.
The EFL did not handle the situation wisely, but what else could they do? Stop Bolton playing? That wasn’t what anybody wanted. For me, the big question isn’t which teams have beaten Bolton, but how the Trotters are dealt with over their misdemeanours. The EFL should have announced punishment (or not) for their cancelled fixture with Brentford and postponed game against Doncaster. That’s the real scandal here, that they’re in plus points when there are still ‘crimes’ to be punished for.
The situation has weighted the division against some teams, but only to the tune of one win or a couple of goals. If Peterborough finish behind Ipswich on goal difference it won’t just be because of one game against Bolton, but also the other 43 that they’ve had to play.
I hope, sincerely, that this all stops long before the end of the season.
