Bolton treading new water

Allardyce: making his Premiership debut as a manager

BBC Sport Online can only see a relegation battle ahead for Bolton.

Bolton are favourites for relegation even before a ball has been kicked in the Premiership.

The top-flight newcomers have been relegated during their last two Premiership campaigns in 1995/1996 and 1997/1998.

And it is hard to envisage anything but a similar scenario for a club with a yo-yo reputation between English football's top two divisions.

  Summer transfers

IN

Henrik Pedersen (Silkeborg)
Nicky Southall (Gillingham)
Djibril Diawara (Torino - loan)
Akinori Nishizawa (Cerezo Osaka - loan)

OUT

Robbie Elliott (Newcastle)
Matt Glennon (Hull)

They beat Preston in the Division One play-off to secure promotion last season but have not strengthened sufficiently to extinguish predictions of their immediate relegation.

They have lost a player in Robbie Elliott with Premiership know-how, although the Wanderers should be able to rely on Colin Hendry and Dean Holdsworth for much-needed experience.

Jamiacan international midfielder Ricardo Gardner and striker Michael Ricketts provide a youthful zest to the side but how they adapt to the Premiership could be vital to Bolton's fortunes.

The Reebok Stadium side's lack of squad depth, especially in midfield, is a major cause for concern while their new arrivals will be entering unfamiliar territory when playing in the Premiership.

Manager Sam Allardyce is also sampling the top-flight as a manager for the first time and he will have his work cut out to save the club from the drop.