Parkinson praises patched-up Bolton squad

Phil Parkinson praised the youngsters that took the field for crisis-hit Bolton in their opening-day defeat at Wycombe.

Wages have been unpaid at the club since March and, with only a handful of senior players travelling, Wanderers announced two signings before kick-off and named six debutants in their starting XI.

With a takeover by the Football Ventures consortium in promising final stages, Parkinson can see the light and felt his makeshift side showed indomitable spirit.

“The senior players made their decision and those that played have done themselves, the club and the supporters proud,” said the Trotters boss.

“We couldn’t call on anyone else, and I really could not have asked for more today.

“It was always going to be very difficult given all the circumstances, but I’m told things are moving in the right direction concerning the takeover and it can’t come soon enough.

“We’ve had a few games behind closed doors over pre-season and had a number of lads in, trialists and others, but because of the situation we’ve lost them.

“I sent an e-mail on the morning of the game to the prospective new management detailing what we need to get this great club back on its feet.

“If we can get things sorted then there is every chance we can be competitive at this level.”

The game, only confirmed as going ahead on Monday, was attended by 1,600 Bolton fans, loyal to a team who are bottom of the third tier on -12 points.

Bolton’s back four was particularly green – boasting an average age of just over 20 – with Kurt Zouma’s brother Yoan and on-the-day signing Josh Earl pitching in.

They held a Wycombe frontline spearheaded by Adebayo Akinfenwa for nearly an hour but succumbed when Paul Smyth rounded the keeper and Fred Onyedinma sealed it late on.

Chairboys chief Gareth Ainsworth praised his side’s composure to wait for the breakthrough and hailed Bolton’s efforts in adversity.

“It was a game we should have won and even though they made it awkward for us in the first half, we just said to the boys to be patient and wait for the opportunity,” he said.

“We haven’t solved anything with this result and there is a long, long way to go. There’s plenty more we need to do on our shape and positional awareness, and that’ll come.

“Our fans know what we’re all about and how we want to play, and we showed glimpses of that.

“I wish Bolton and Phil all the best – the young pros who came in will remember it for the rest of their careers, and I’ve no doubt a lot of them will go on to have great careers.

“The game in the north west needs a strong Bolton Wanderers, and I hope they can get things sorted quickly.”