Bolton Wanderer’s current longest serving player, Ricardo Almeida Santos, looks set to leave as his contract expires this summer.
The central defender has been key to Wanderers progression since joining the club in 2020. After a rocky half of his first campaign in Greater Manchester, Santos became a mainstay as the club pulled form back and confirmed promotion back to League One on the last day of the season. The players performances would see him awarded the clubs player of the season in 2020-21.
In the following campaign, as Antoni Sarcevic departed, Santos was appointed club captain and continued to be one of the first names on the Wanderer’s team sheet.
In May 2022, the player signed a new contract, keeping him with the club till the summer of 2025. That season, Santos would lead Wanderers to silverware, being integral as the club won the EFL Trophy, beating Plymouth Argyle 4-0.
As the success continued, Santos would have his best season in white, playing almost every game in the club’s journey to the play-off final. Despite being named in the team of the season, the defender could not guide Wanderer’s to promotion as the team put on a lacklustre display, losing 2-0 to Oxford United.
Unfortunately, with the club missing out on their ultimate goal, things became sour over the summer, with Santos suffering online abuse from a small number of supporters.
With the player and team struggling for form, Santos was replaced as captain by George Thomason, with former manager Ian Evatt looking to take pressure off the defender. Whilst his personal form improved, it was clear to see he was struggling to find his old self.
Santos will leave Wanderer’s after the best spell of his career, playing 207 times, scoring six goals, delivering a promotion and a domestic trophy alongside several personal accolades.
Whilst moving on from Santos may be the headline maker, it appears that Bolton will also move on from Gethin Jones.
Jones joined the club during the same window as Santos and whilst not having the same level of impact as his counterpart, has been a huge part of the club’s progression.
Initially joining as a full-back, the now 29-year-old has played in multiple positions across the back line, often being utilised in a back three over the past two seasons.
At Wanderers, Jones form has been up and down but his dedication to the club cannot be understated. In 2021, Jones’s mother was diagnosed with motor neurone disease. That year, the club organised a friendly match in partnership Darby Rimmer MND, to help raise money for his mother’s recovery. Though his mother would pass a year later, Jones credits Wanderer’s supporters and staff for helping him through the time and stopping him from retiring.
With new boss Steven Schumacher looking to revert to a back four and inject some youth into the squad, Jones appears to be casualty number one of the new identity.
Should the defender move on, he leaves having played 188 times, scoring eight times and providing 18 assists.
With Schumacher looking to make changes to the squad it would seem that Wanderers other out of contract players are likely to leave, with the manager looking to refresh ahead of another promotion push.
Goalkeepers Joel Coleman and Nathan Baxter will likely move on, whilst loanees Jay Matete, Alex Murphy and Kion Etete have all returned to their parent clubs.
Writers View
Both Jones and Santos have been stalwarts at the club since it’s revival under Evatt and Sharon Brittan in 2020.
Whilst Jones’s performance’s have been inconsistent in League One, his commitment has been unwavering, especially after the unfortunate passing of his mother. As Schumacher looks to prepare this club for an automatic promotion push, it would seem though Jones, at 29, simply does not have the quality to help the club at the top level anymore.
I would be happy to see Jones return in a utility position should the offer be on the table but it would seem with very few players out of contract and Schumacher looking to add youth to the squad, that Jones may not have a place. Certainly a player who gave his all but maybe not the person to help Wanderers get to the next level.
Personally, I will be sad to see Santos leave, a monster CB who undoubtedly loved this club. Truly integral to everything Bolton have done since 2020. Simply put, this team does not get out of League Two, win the EFL Trophy, or get close to the play-off final without him.
I certainly believe Santos still has a lot to give but understand that the trials and tribulations during this campaign post Wembley have been a lot to take. I hope in time, both fans and player can look back fondly on the time together because without Santos, we are not where we are now.
Both these moves come under the category of sometimes it best to move on, for both parties, after a failed objective. Wembley has been a shadow over this team all year and whilst both could contribute hugely, we have to shift that cloud for the betterment of everyone.
Wanderers need to make changes to move forward, with so little players out of contract, it is hard to see any player returning. A change of system is happening, along side some culture changes. Whilst I can often be a sentimental fan, decisions have to be made if the club is to get back to the Championship.
Stats for each player via FotMob:
Ricardo Santos – https://www.fotmob.com/en-GB/players/398992/ricardo-santos
Gethin Jones – https://www.fotmob.com/en-GB/players/605257/gethin-jones
