Bolton Wanderers’ attempts to register Jeff King as a professional have hit the buffers after representatives from League One rivals scuppered the move.
A horrific run of form since the turn of the year may mean that Bolton Wanderers are closer to dropping out of the play-off places than they are to the top of the table, but the fact remains that Phil Parkinson has worked minor miracles to ensure the club are heading into the final two months of the season with a genuine chance of promotion, Bolton News reports.
Saved from the brink of administration as recently as November, the club didn’t spend a penny in the transfer market, instead relying on free agents and loan deals while being forced to deal with the loss of top scorer Zach Clough in January and Player of the Year Rob Holding in the summer.
However, as Bolton chairman Ken Anderson has told the Bolton News, it’s not just financial restrictions and a transfer embargo that are standing in the club’s way. The legitimacy of a Football League board made up of representatives from rival clubs, including Scunthorpe chief executive Jim Rodwell, voting on whether Bolton can register players has inevitably come into question.
“When I spoke to the Football League they couldn’t understand why I’d want to bring another player in because they say ‘you have 25 good players,’ the chairman said after the Football League board prevented Bolton registering young striker Jeff King as a senior professional to ease the injury crisis.
“I wasn’t too happy. There were certain people at other clubs who probably didn’t want us to bring in other players.
“The words they used were ‘conflict of interest’ but I’d go something stronger and say they may have had a vested interest in him not joining us.”
Furthermore, Bolton may be prevented from re-registering experienced midfielder Darren Pratley after eight months out injured while their attempts to sign free agent Jem Karacan (below) may also hit the buffers.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
