Bolton Wanderers defender David Wheater has stated that he wants the club to make a strong start to the season in order to be challenging for a Premier league return at the end of the campaign. Bolton’s attempt to return to the Premier League failed once again last season after they finished mid-table. However, things are looking positive for the club despite the huge financial problems. The recently released Championship fixtures for the 2014-15 season sees the club taking on Watford in the opening match. The match will be at Vicarage Road.

Following this, Bolton have two matches against Nottingham and Middlesbrough at home. This is a fixture list that manager Dougie Freedman would have been hoping in order to get his team start well. In previous seasons, they have failed to do this and this has cost them their promotion bid. Wheater, who is a former England under 21 defender, says that it would be great to return to his former club Middlesbrough. He started his career at the north-east outfit before moving onto Bolton. A number of changes, especially in the attack, is expected to happen at the club.

Craig Dawson, who spent the last season on loan at the club, has revealed his desire to leave West Brom on a permanent basis. This has alerted Bolton, who will be looking to sign him.

“I am excited to get going again. The players that came in on loan last season had such a big impact and we’ve been able to sign a number of them. We have to aim to start the season as we finished it. Watford on the opening day is a tough start, then we’ll be right back up at it again for the cup game against Bury. When the fixtures come out I always look for the games against Middlesbrough and the ones that are on my birthday,” said Wheater.

Former Bolton Wanderers manager Roy McFarland has claimed that it would not be surprising to see Bolton challenge along with Derby County for a top six spot in the upcoming championship season. Bolton have been struggling in the Championship for the last two seasons after their relegation from the Premier league. They were one of the established Premier league teams after spending almost a decade in the top division. Since their relegation, they have been crippled with financial problems and mounting debts. The club have debts of more than £ 150 million, which is not helping manager Dougie Freedman to sign top class players.

Despite this, McFarland expects his former club to challenge for a promotion spot in the upcoming campaign. A good run towards the end of the season saw Bolton finish only a couple of places below the top six. Freedman will be hoping that this run continues going into the new season as well. Recently, he expressed that the club will be looking to sign players with a lot of potential. After allowing the likes of Tyrone Mears and David Ngog to leave the club in the last few months, it is expected that several new faces will be present at the club for the new season.

“Things haven’t gone well for Bolton in the last couple of years but the club is solid and it is only a matter of time before it starts heading back in the right direction. They have been at this level for a little while now and they know what is expected of them. Bolton’s is still a result I look for. I follow them with interest because I enjoyed working at the club. But I think Bolton can make the top six this time around – and then who knows after that?” said McFarland.

The future of Bolton Wanderers goalkeeper Andy Lonergan has been a major doubt over the last few weeks, as there have been no talks about extending his contract, which comes to an end next summer. The 30-year-old is no longer the first choice goalkeeper at the club after having conceded this position to Adam Bogdan. Dougie Freedman has stated that he is still prepared to hold talks with Lonergan and get him on a new contract, but he accepts that the 30-year-old should fight for his position.

After flirting with a relegation for a couple of months, Bolton managed to end the Championship season in relative safety in the 14th position. However, the club will need to challenge for a play-off place next season in order to return to the Premier league. The £ 150 million debts have become crippling for the club in the last few years. It has not about the Freedman to strengthen the squad in the transfer window. Bolton have also sold a number of quality players in the last few transfer windows.

Freedman has accepted that a player of Lonergan’s does not deserve to be in the number two position, but he says that the 30-year-old should show the fighting spirit in order to get back to the number one spot.

“Andy knows his position and that he has a year left here. But he’s another player – and I have told him this – who I would be very comfortable sitting down with over the summer and looking to sign a new contract. But he needs to be comfortable fighting for his position. He isn’t guaranteed anything. I’m comfortable saying that because I think his game has come on. I think the way I want to play eventually,” said the Bolton manager, whose team finished with 59 points.