Bolton Wanderers trio set for exits as Steven Schumacher makes significant contract decisions | OneFootball

Bolton Wanderers are bracing for a significant summer overhaul, after a season that failed to meet expectations and ended in disappointment.

Bolton Wanderers are bracing for a significant summer overhaul after a season that failed to meet expectations and ended in disappointment, and three senior players - including former captain Ricardo Santos - are set to depart.

The need for fresh faces and renewed energy is clear as Bolton look to rebuild a squad capable of mounting a serious challenge in League One next term.

The 2024/25 campaign was one of frustration and missed opportunities for the Wanderers. Despite flashes of promise and moments of resilience, consistency eluded the team, resulting in a finish outside the play-off places.

Now, with the dust settling, the club is faced with tough decisions about the future of several first-team stalwarts and three are reportedly expected to be let go.

Gethin Jones, Ricardo Santos and Nathan Baxter set to leave Bolton Wanderers

As reported by the Bolton News, three senior first-team players in the form of Gethin Jones, Ricardo Santos and Nathan Baxter are all set to be told by Steven Schumacher that they will be leaving this summer when their contracts expire.

Versatile defender Jones became one of Bolton’s early signings under manager Ian Evatt in August 2020. Prior to donning the Wanderers’ shirt, Jones spent the 2019–20 season with Carlisle United after stints at clubs including Fleetwood Town and several loan spells during his time in the Everton system.

His move from Carlisle signified Bolton’s ambition to rebuild with experienced yet adaptable players, and Jones quickly became an integral part of the side. His work ethic and versatility have provided a reliable option on either flank of defense, a trait highly valued as the club embarks on a major overhaul.

But Jones has been a bit-part presence this season, featuring in 23 league matches, 27 across all competitions. In 1,515 minutes of league action, Jones only helped the Trotters achieve four clean sheets.

Arriving the same summer as Jones at Bolton was Santos. After impressing during his time at Barnet, where he spent three and a half seasons and developed a reputation as a robust defensive presence, the Portuguese centre-back made the move north to Greater Manchester.

Santos has clocked 25 league appearances and managed to find the back of the net once this season, a header in their 4-1 away win against Stevenage, but was stripped of captaincy early on in the campaign by previous manager Evatt.

The final player who is set to be released is Baxter, whose journey to Bolton Wanderers was one marked by a wealth of varied experiences.

A product of Chelsea’s youth system, having arrived there at the age of eight after his early beginnings with Cray Wanderers, Baxter honed his goalkeeping skills through a series of loan spells at Metropolitan Police, Solihull Moors, Woking, Yeovil Town, Ross County, Accrington Stanley, and Hull City.

Baxter has been tasked with keeping Bolton’s goal safe through 26 League One fixtures. He has conceded 39 goals, averaging about 1.5 goals allowed per 90 minutes, while registering 66 saves from 109 shots faced, making his save percentage a modest 60.55%, and at times has had to share the starting jersey with summer signing Luke Southwood.

Baxter’s numbers reflect the defensive struggles that Bolton have encountered this season, and in an overhaul designed to inject new vigor into the side, his record could mark him out as expendable in the eyes of the hierarchy.

The potential departures of Jones, Baxter, and Santos signal a major shake-up for Bolton Wanderers.

While each has contributed significantly in recent seasons, their exits reflect a desire for renewal after a campaign that ended with the club missing out on the play-offs.

With only a handful of contracts expiring and many under-performing players still on the books, manager Steven Schumacher faces a challenging summer as he looks to reshape the squad and emulate the success of promotion rivals.