1985-86 season in 91st position, therefore having to apply for re-election. John however did on a personal note finish the season successfully by picking up the club's official player of the year award for 1985–86. The following season was however a different story. With a new artificial pitch laid and John McGrath at the helm Preston stormed to promotion with John finishing the season as the club's leading scorer. The rumor, however, of a fall out with manager McGrath only increased with Thomas being dropped several times during the season to be replaced by the likes of Nigel Jemson, Frank Worthington and Steve Taylor. He did though every time regain his place in the team, ending the season with an excellent 28 goals. At the end of his contract in July 1987 he was sold much to the fans dismay to Bolton Wanderers for a bargain £30,000 after finding the net 38 times in just 78 games. Return to Bolton Wanderers and West Bromwich Albion His second spell at Bolton was far more successful than his first. In 1987–88 Thomas enjoyed his second successive Division Four promotion, before a comfortable mid-table finish in Division Three the following season. He played on the winning side at Wembley in 1989 in the Football League Trophy final. He was club top-scorer in both seasons, scoring 31 times in 73 games before deciding in July 1989 to sign for his boyhood heroes West Bromwich Albion on a free transfer. John however spent the majority of his short stay at The Hawthorns on the bench, managing 1 goal in 19 games, although he did score a hat-trick in a 5–3 victory for the Baggies in a Football League Cup tie against Bradford City at Valley Parade. Soon after however, the call came from struggling Preston in February 1990. Return to Preston North End After signing for £50,000 and helping North End to beat the drop, hopes for the following season were high. But a broken leg on his return to Bolton Wanderers scuppered these hopes. Despite recovering from his injury John to struggle to reach the same level again and after just 27 more games and another six goals, he was transferred to fellow Division Three side Hartlepool United in March 1992. One goal in seven games was all John could manage at United before they in turn released him in the summer. John managed