Bolton Wanderers are set for a double departure, with chief executive Neil Hart expected to leave the club by the end of the week and young forward Trevon Bryan heading out on loan.
As reported by the Bolton News, Hart, who has been in charge at Bolton for the past three years, is widely anticipated to take up a similar role at League Two side MK Dons. Having joined Wanderers from Burnley in the summer of 2021, Hart has overseen a significant period of change and growth for the club.
During his tenure, Hart was instrumental in several key developments, including introducing a membership scheme and creating the Fanzone in partnership with the BWFC Supporters’ Trust. He also achieved record post-Premier League season ticket and merchandise sales, alongside increased average matchday attendances, although success on the field may have had some bearing on this.
He was named CEO of the year at the Football Business Awards in May 2023, but his time at Bolton wasn’t without its challenges. Some supporters voiced dissatisfaction over issues such as the introduction of parking charge and the removal of certain matchday bus services. The membership scheme, initially met with criticism, was later claimed by Hart and the club to be successful in improving communication with the fanbase.
Bolton Wanderers have not yet commented on Hart’s imminent departure. Still, it is understood that once confirmed, his responsibilities will be temporarily divided between chief operating officer Phil Mason and newly appointed chief financial officer Niaz Shazad.
On the playing side, B Team forward Trevon Bryan is also on his way out of the club, for now. The former Burnley forward has been loaned to Northern Premier League side Ashton United and he made his debut for The Robins as a substitute in their 1-0 home defeat to Morpeth Town on Saturday.
Bryan’s temporary move is seen as a key development step for the young forward as he gains valuable first-team experience. The left-footed attacker originally impressed Wanderers by playing against them for Burnley Under 21s in 2023.
Writer’s View
Replacing a CEO is never ‘sexy’ news for a club, but it can be huge. Hart has overseen an interesting period at Bolton, a time when more is expected of clubs in terms of fan engagement and interaction. Given their troubles before his time, the protracted takeover and huge points deduction, it’s not a surprise a suit was originally viewed with suspicion.
As for Bryan’s exit, something like this is widely expected from a club that operates a B Team, but it does make a bold statement about such a setup. Surely, the B Team of a club like Bolton should be playing games that offer the experience the youngster can get at Ashton? If not (which is great for those of us opposed to B Teams), why even bother? Why not Under 23s or the old-style reserves?
Founder of The Real EFL, Gary is a passionate Lincoln City fan with extensive content creation across the Championship and EFL. He also shares expert football betting tips.
