Bolton Wanderers defender Max Conway is being targeted by clubs in the fourth tier after a successful loan spell at AFC Fylde last season which followed a loan spell in the National League North with Buxton in 2022/23.
The left-back made 27 appearances for Chris Beech’s side and contributed three assists to help the side avoid relegation from the fifth tier. AFC Fylde finished in 18th place, three points clear of the relegation zone and Conway played a key role in a vital win over Gateshead in April that ultimately ensured their survival.
Manager Ian Evatt has been in charge since July 2020 and led the club to promotion from the fourth tier in his first campaign. He has led the team admirably in the third tier over the last three seasons but has failed to achieve promotion to the Championship and narrowly missed out with a third-place finish in 2023/24.
They have had a relatively quiet transfer window but have added depth to what was a successful side at this level. Goalkeeper Luke Southwood has arrived from Cheltenham to provide competition for the number one jersey and midfielders Klaidi Lolos and Scott Arfield will provide depth in central midfield.
Chris Forino will boost the cover at centre-back and it would appear that the club are happy with their current squad after reaching the League One play-off final. They have reported no major departures this summer and no marquee arrivals.
Ian Evatt prefers to play three-at-the-back, so there is little space for natural full-backs to become a regular in his side unless they are comfortable in attacking areas. Max Conway has yet to play at Football League level and although he has been a regular in pre-season, his game must be developed if he is to force his way into the manager’s thinking.
The manager has given The Bolton News an update on his plans for loan moves for three of the prospects currently training with the first-team squad in pre-season. About Max Conway, he stated:
“Max is doing really well and there are a lot of League Two teams ringing my phone off at the minute, so that speaks volumes for where he’s at.
“He looked a little bit jaded (at Chorley) because he has done an enormous amount of work in the off-season, trained intensely with us all pre-season and played in every game against good opponents. Saturday, for instance, Isiah Jones and Luke Ayling are very good footballers at that level and Max more than held his own.
“He is progressing all the time. We are trying to strengthen that area of the pitch, it isn’t a secret, but Max is doing himself no harm. Whatever happens, he is going the right way.
“Max will be at least in League Two, if not with us. It’s a bit up in the air at the moment with our recruitment still ongoing.”
It should be anticipated that there will be activity in terms of arrivals and departures at Bolton Wanderers between now and the start of the season as they will be aware of the strength currently in the Birmingham City and Huddersfield Town squads.
Those two sides will be confident of securing an instant return to the Championship and with just two automatic promotion spots available, the margin for error will be minimal this season. They still look a couple of additions short of competing with the sides that dropped down into the third tier.
The League One promotion battle is shaping up to be very competitive with Birmingham City looking like clear league winners as they have secured some major signings this summer but there are seven or eight teams that are capable of competing for an automatic promotion place, with Bolton Wanderers certainly one of the sides in that bracket.
2024-07-26T14:23:41Z dg43tfdfdgfd