Eaves exits

TOM Eaves has signed for Bolton Wanderers.

The 18-year-old striker has ended weeks of speculation by putting pen to paper on a three-year deal with the Premier League club, with Athletic picking up an undisclosed fee plus additional incentive payments and a sell-on clause.

Eaves was on Bolton's radar even before his pre-season hat-trick against the Trotters, and boss Owen Coyle held off competition from Burnley and a host of other clubs to land his man.

Meanwhile, Athletic hope that the Paul Dickov inspired feelgood factor will translate into a big attendance at Boundary Park this Saturday.

Despite working with a reduced playing budget, the new boss and his assistant Gerry Taggart have overseen a series of positive pre-season displays which have carried on into competitive games away at Tranmere and Scunthorpe.

A total of 1,764 Athletic fans made the trip to Prenton Park for the npower League One opener, in which two Dale Stephens goals powered the visitors to victory.

The Scunthorpe fixture produced a midweek defeat in the Carling Cup, but Athletic were nonetheless impressive and will not be short on confidence ahead of the first home game of the season.

And with finances tight, a big taking on the gate for the visit of Notts County is important.

"There is a new wave of optimism around Boundary Park following Paul Dickov's appointment," said Athletic chief executive Alan Hardy.

"It showed at Tranmere, where we took a terrific following, that fans have responded to Paul.”