It was announced this morning that Erhun Oztumer, one of only 6 senior players left in the squad until today, has left Bolton Wanderers after winning an appeal to have his contract torn up, freeing him up for a move elsewhere.
This development hardly comes as a surprise as the midfielder’s 12-month stay at the UniBol has involved nothing but toil and tribulation.
From his struggles to get into the Wanderers first-team, to the club’s off-field perils, it’s a year to forget for the Greenwich-born Oztumer.
- Bassini court case adjourned: What happens now?
- Bolton hit with humbling reality check in League Cup defeat
- Rochdale v Bolton: How do Bolton stack up against League Cup opponents?
(Photo by Andrew Kearns – CameraSport via Getty Images)
Erhun Oztumer joined Wanderers on a two-year deal in the summer of 2018 on a free transfer from Walsall, just before last season’s doomed campaign got underway.
In all, Oztumer played a total of 19 games for Bolton and scored just once – on his debut against Leeds in the League Cup.
It wasn’t a season to remember for Oztumer as he spent most of his only year at Bolton either on the bench or not in the squad at all as his diminutive stature didn’t lend himself to Phil Parkinson’s reliance on long-ball football which left the 28-year-old midfielder chasing the game more often than not.
- Why Harry Brockbank should remain as Bolton’s captain
- Where does Bolton’s turbulent takeover stand?
- Pride in Bolton restored as youngsters battle for draw
BOLTON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 10: Bolton Wanderers’ Erhun Oztumer rues a near miss during the Sky Bet Championship match between Bolton Wanderers and Swansea City at Macron Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Bolton, England. (Photo by Andrew Kearns – CameraSport via Getty Images)
After playing such a minor role for Bolton, it’s unlikely that Wanderers will really miss the 5ft3 midfielder.
It’s obviously a huge shame that we never really got to see Oztumer at the height of his power as many suspected that he could’ve shone in League One this year but you could tell from his first day at Bolton that he was a poor fit for Parkinson’s playing style.
Wanderers will have to hope that 18-year-old Ronan Darcy, who has started the season in lively fashion, can make up for the departing Oztumer and with a goal in the League Cup defeat at Rochdale, he’s already equalled Oztumer’s goal tally from last season.