Bolton Wanderers are set to face a major decision between the posts this summer, with Nathan Baxter’s future hanging in the balance and Luke Southwood pushing for the number one shirt.
Baxter Dropped, Questions Raised
After a costly error in the defeat to Lincoln City on Easter Monday, Baxter was replaced by Southwood for Bolton’s match against Peterborough United. The switch may signal a definitive end to the former Chelsea keeper’s time at the Toughsheet Community Stadium, especially with his contract expiring in June.
Baxter, who joined last summer, impressed early in the campaign with 17 clean sheets in all competitions. However, inconsistency, a mid-season injury, and a late-season dip in form appear to have shifted manager Steven Schumacher’s thinking.
Southwood, who joined from Cheltenham last summer, capped his return with a penalty save at Peterborough. While the Northern Ireland international remains under contract, his long-term status as first-choice is still unclear.
Numbers Behind the Dilemma
Between them, Baxter and Southwood have conceded 69 league goals this season, placing Bolton among League One’s leakiest defences. Baxter’s save percentage stands at 63.2 per cent, Southwood’s at 60.7 — both figures placing them in the bottom third of League One keepers with 15 or more starts.
In terms of win ratio, Southwood edges Baxter with a 52 per cent success rate in his 25 starts, compared to Baxter’s 40 per cent from 30 games.
The financial side could also influence Schumacher’s thinking. Baxter was signed on a high-end contract last summer amid competition from the Championship and abroad. Letting him and club captain Ricardo Santos go could create vital wage room for summer reinforcements.
Youngster Luke Hutchinson, who made his senior debut this season and featured on loan at Crawley Town, could step up as third choice, with Joel Coleman expected to leave.
Writer’s View
Bolton’s summer rebuild begins with a tough question: stick with Southwood, chase a new number one, or convince Baxter to stay? Schumacher’s decision to drop Baxter could be telling — but the stats suggest neither keeper has made the spot undeniably theirs. With promotion ambitions on hold and defensive frailties laid bare, finding a solution between the sticks may be top of the Bolton boss’s summer to-do list.
