Chairman Pleased With Duo Progress

By Mark Heys
February 8 2006

The emergence of teenage pair Joey O'Brien and Ricardo Vaz-Te in the Bolton senior squad has helped to soften the blow of last month's lack of transfer activity according to chairman Phil Gartside.

Gartside bemoaned the lack of quality players available during last month's transfer window and said that the club where not in a position to make signings for the sheer sake of it.

"There is a lack of quality around and we were not going to make signings for the sake of it. It was not just about cash availability." said Gartside to a local radio station.

Vaz-Te and O'Brien where both on the fringes of the Bolton squad prior to this season but have seen opportunities greatly increased during the coming campaign and this is something which Gartside describes as a bonus.

"The bonus is we have been able to bring some young players through like O'Brien and Vaz Te. That is important in the development of the club."

Such developments are expected to get stronger in the coming years as an multi purpose youth academy is being planned and will be situated nearby to the clubs current Reebok Stadium home.