Poole signed for Bolton Wanderers in October 2001. He spent four years at the club, mainly as backup to Jussi Jääskeläinen. During the 2003–04 season, he was part of the Bolton squad that reached the League Cup final, and was an unused substitute in the final against his old club Middlesbrough. While at Bolton, Poole often trained at West Bromwich Albion with Bolton's goalkeeping coach Fred Barber, due to it being nearer to his Midlands home.