BOLTON Wanderers will have to wait to welcome fans back after it was announced the borough would be placed in tier 3 - the highest Covid alert level - once lockdown ends on December 2.

Tougher restrictions have been imposed on the tier system, so it remains the case that football must be played behind closed doors for areas in Tier 3.

Up to 4,000 fans will be allowed into stadiums in tier 1 areas, and up to 2,000 in tier 2.

But Wanderers’ back-to-back home games against Southend on Saturday and Port Vale on December 5 will be without fans. So too will the trip to Walsall on December 12.

The regulations will come under review every two weeks, with an end to the tier-system planned for spring, but as things stand the first Bolton game that is eligible to be played in front of spectators is the away fixture at Cheltenham on December 15, followed by the Boxing Day trip to Carlisle United, with both areas in tier 2.

Of playing football without fans, wing back Peter Kioso, said: “It’s a little bit different.

“Away from home you have the fans calling you ‘rubbish’ and things like that. I miss that!

“And when you’re playing at home teams are coming to your home pitch and they’re afraid because of the atmosphere you have.

“I know for definite back at home at Bolton the fans would be electric and teams would be fearful of coming to our stadium.

“Obviously it’s unfortunate. Hopefully when the fans come I know that they are going to bring the energy we need off the pitch.”