WE delved into the archives to find out what was happening at Bolton​Wanderers on this day in history.

1998: Alan Thompson faced a choice between Aston Villa, Everton and Leeds United as his Wanderers exit looked a fait accompli.

The midfielder and his agent Paul Stretford had held talks with Villa chairman Doug Ellis and secretary, Steve Stride, with Everton and Leeds expected to follow suit.

It would then be left up to Thompson to make the final decision – but Bolton chairman Gordon Hargreaves was confident the club would get a fair price.

"We're not going to stand in Alan's way," he said.

"We have given permission for him and his agent to speak to Villa. From that we naturally assume he will wish to speak to other interested parties.

"There are two other clubs in the frame. But, if they (Thompson and his agent) strike a deal with Villa and don't want to go elsewhere, we will deal with Villa."

Newcastle United were also set for a windfall, having inserted a 25 per cent sell on fee when Thompson signed for Bolton for £250,000 in 1993.

2004: Wanderers chief Phil Gartside was philosophical as he drew a line under the Rivaldo affair.

Although he was bitterly disappointed to hear that the legendary Brazilian was reported to have signed to play in Qatar - one of three major setbacks the club had suffered in the previous few weeks - the Wanderers chairman said Sam Allardyce would just "move on to his next target".

He admitted he had become suspicious that the club was being strung along by the former World and European footballer of the year and feared the worst when he learned that, having said he wanted to stay in mainstream football, Rivaldo turned up in Qatar.

"We weren't making it up when we said we had faxes stating that Rivaldo wanted to come," he added. "We were led to believe all along he wanted to play for us. Now it seems he had other things in mind.

"What is hard to take is that he didn't just tell us he didn't want to come here."

Wanderers had also been snubbed by Croatian striker Dado Prso, who opted to sign a pre-contract agreement with Glasgow Rangers and also Jeremie Brechet, Inter Milan's French defender, signed a four-year deal with the Spanish club Real Sociedad.

Celtic, who were thought to be their main rivals in the chase for Rivaldo's signature, were ready to snatch another name on Allardyce’s wanted list – Senegal international striker Henri Camara, of Wolves.

1991: Phil Neal was facing a major confidence building job to heal the wounds of Wanderers’ Wembley heartbreak against Tranmere.

The Bolton boss had seen his side beaten in the play-off final and now had choices to make on the futures of top scorer Tony Philliskirk and long-serving midfielder Steve Thompson.

“I can’t ask any more from my players,” Neal admitted. “They have spent every ounce of energy for me and for Bolton Wanderers.

“It was very frustrating to bring 20,000 fans down there while Tranmere brought 10,000. It hurts me that we didn’t do it for them and it hurts the lads as well.”

Skipper Phil Brown hoped that the experience would motivate the team to go one better the following season.

“Immediate thoughts have got to be for next season but you have got to have a rest first and then say ‘I never want to go through this again’.”

Chris Malkin scored the decisive goal for Tranmere, leaving a 19-year-old Alan Stubbs to lament: “We are too good for the Third Division. Everywhere we go teams are frightened of us. We play good football and teams respect us.

“I’m gutted we didn’t do it – but I am sure we will next time.”

Wanderers were also left fuming by Tranmere’s unsporting behaviour in the aftermath of the game.

Phil Neal confirmed that only two Rovers players had offered handshakes at the final whistle and only goalkeeper Eric Nixon had visited the Bolton dressing room to offer commiserations.

“They’ll say it’s sour grapes but having given our all for 120 minutes and to not be commiserated by the opposition is totally out of order,” fumed Brown.

“I would have felt for their lads if we would have won.

“I’ll never forget that. It was totally unprofessional.”

1928: Wanderers ended their Scandinavian tour with a 3-1 victory against Oslo. The team had lost just one of their six games, spread over a period of 13 days.

1923: Playing the last game of their tour of Switzerland, Wanderers beat an Alsace XI 3-0.