Bolton fans were far from happy to waken up to the news that Luca Connell had signed a four year contract with Celtic.
Less than a decade ago they could look down their nose at the Scottish champions as Nicolas Anelka, Youri Djorkaeff, Jay-Jay Okacha and Ivan Campo trousered massive wages out of the Reebok Stadium.
The last couple of years have been pretty miserable for Bolton as reality returns alongside the debt hangover from the big spending Allardyce days.
For it to go from “we’ve turned down request to leave” to “Connell signs a four year contract” in 24 hours is some jump.
Story will be up soon with a comment from Wanderers’ administrators. They say fee was substantially more than Celtic were legally obliged to pay. #bwfc— Marc Iles (@MarcIles) June 29, 2019
Storm brewing here… Wanderers turn down request from Luca Connell to terminate contract.https://t.co/4ib4Oz8mLf #bwfc
— Marc Iles (@MarcIles) June 28, 2019
As local newspapers do the Bolton News has been reassuring fans that all is well at the club despite player strikes forcing the cancellation of a league fixture and the club going into administration.
Recently they have been reassured that Connell had a year left on his Scholar contract preventing a cut price departure.
On Friday it was reported that Bolton’s administrators had rejected the player handing in 14 days notice, less than 24 hours later their golden boy was pictured in a Celtic shirt after the announcement of his four year contract.
With Sunderland, Portsmouth and Ipswich to contend with a play-off spot could be quite a stretch with stability in League One a more realistic option.
Marc Iles is the chief football reporter at the Bolton News.
