David Wheater believes that Neil Lennon has brought the good times back to Bolton.
Friday night’s 1-0 win away to Milwall lifted Bolton into 16th place as they eye up festive fixtures against Blackburn and Huddersfield where six points would take them close to the play-off spots.
Wheater is one of the few survivors from the club’s time in the Premier League and is delighted with the impact that Lennon has made at the club.
“There are smiles on people’s faces all the way through from the kit man to the groundsman,” Wheater told the Bolton News. “It’s back to family feel we had when Owen Coyle was here, after he left it changed a bit.
“I’ve got nothing against Dougie, he had his own ways, but it’s a lot better now, the lads have taken to it and I think it was what we needed.
“In training the gaffer has been top drawer. Training is brilliant. When someone isn’t playing well he’ll tell you and I think that’s what this place has been missing a little bit. You need people to name names when they aren’t playing the best.”
When Lennon took over Bolton were sitting second bottom of the table with just six points from eleven matches.
Taking on the job seemed a thankless task with the side in freefall but five months after leaving Celtic the Irishman was refreshed and ready for a fresh challenge.
Winning at the New Den can never be taken for granted with Lennon quietly reassured by his side’s victory.
“That’s the best we’ve played away from home for a while,” he said. “With the football we played and chances we created I thought we were good value for the win.”