Released Ipswich Town Goalkeeper Set For League One Move
Recently released Ipswich Town and former Oldham Athletic goalkeeper Joel Coleman is set for a return to League One football with Bolton Wanderers, according to journalist Alan Nixon via Patreon.
The 27-year-old goalkeeper played zero games for the Tractor Boys last season as Kieran McKenna’s side secured automatic promotion back up to the Championship, only afforded a place on the substitutes bench in the FA Cup against non-league Bracknell Town and second tier outfit Rotherham United.
Coleman joined the likes of Richard Keogh and Kane Vincent-Young out of the door at Portman Road when the retained list was officially announced, no surprises really considering Coleman’s lack of impact in an uneventful one-year stay in Suffolk.
Now, the ex Tractor Boys man will hope he can impress elsewhere with Bolton Wanderers looking the most likely next destination.
Who Is Joel Coleman?
Joel Coleman began his career at Oldham Athletic, starting out at youth level in 2013 before transitioning to a starting goalkeeper for the Latics by the 2015-16 season.
He would make 32 starts for Oldham that same campaign, earning himself a move up to the Championship in the process by signing with Huddersfield Town.
His time at Huddersfield Town would see him become a reserve goalkeeper for the promotion-chasing Terriers, signing for the West Yorkshire club the exact same season they pulled off their unexpected promotion to the Premier League.
Coleman would even start in the Championship semi-final playoffs for David Wagner’s Terriers, keeping a clean sheet versus Sheffield Wednesday in the first leg at home before Huddersfield then went to Wembley and clinched top-flight football.
Since then, the experienced goalkeeper has played for a number of EFL clubs including Shrewsbury Town and Rochdale before relocating to Ipswich for his final move.
Coleman would be joining his hometown club if the move to Ian Evatt’s Wanderers did materialise, the 27-year-old goalkeeper born in Bolton.
Bolton In Need Of Goalkeepers
Adding goalkeepers to the Bolton squad would have been cited as a main priority for Ian Evatt and co this summer, with James Trafford returning back to Manchester City after another impressive loan and Joel Dixon departing for Hartlepool United leaving the Wanderers light in net.
Bolton have already captured one goalkeeper signing, Nathan Baxter relocating up North after his contract with Chelsea expired. Baxter had previously played for Hull in the division above, Bolton now his next destination permanently after rumours began to circulate.
There’s no doubt that Bolton will still want another brand new goalkeeper to replace the outgoing Trafford and to give Baxter competition, the Manchester City youngster formidable in goal over the last two seasons.
On the way to a playoff finish this campaign just gone, Trafford only conceded 36 goals – Sheffield Wednesday were the only side with a meaner defence over the course of 46 games, conceding 35.
Writer’s View
Bolton will have known that this would be the situation for some time – keeping hold of James Trafford for a third straight season would have been an unrealistic aim.
Coleman would give Ian Evatt’s men a reliable pair of hands in goal at Bolton and competition to Nathan Baxter, the 27-year old has played for a whole host of clubs across the EFL. Arguably, his finest spell came at Bolton’s Greater Manchester neighbours in Oldham Athletic in League One.
Therefore, Bolton will be looking for Coleman to come in and perform at that same standard. Buying Coleman on a free transfer would be a smart move, bolstering the Wanderers in goal ahead of what many will hope is another promotion chasing campaign for Bolton under Ian Evatt after pre-season is over.
The former Oldham man will just hope he can blow the Ipswich cobwebs off and play his part for whatever side takes a gamble on his services.
