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Andy Lonergan feared his Wanderers career was over after leaving the pitch on a stretcher at Nottingham Forest.
The keeper is one of 13 players told their contract will not be extended this summer but insists he is not bitter about his exit at the Macron Stadium.
Lonergan had been the Whites’ number one choice in goal for much of the season but found himself unable to usurp Ben Amos or Adam Bogdan in the final few months of the campaign after being knocked unconscious at the City Ground.
Speaking to The Bolton News, the 31-year-old has thanked Wanderers fans for their support in the last three years and is now looking forward to his next step.
“The fans have been quality with me and I’ve loved every minute at Bolton,” he said.
“I’m not just saying it but I think the stadium, the training ground, the fans – there aren’t many better places to play your football in the country.
“I half-thought this was coming.
"When I got that concussion at Nottingham Forest something changed. I felt like there was a different vibe and since then I’ve known something wasn’t quite right.
“I’m not bitter about anything, though. I’ve been thinking it over since I’ve been out of the team and I’ve had one good offer already.
“It isn’t something I want to rush into, I wouldn’t necessarily dive into the first thing I’m offered.
"All the decisions I make have to take into account my wife and my two kids.”
Lonergan was signed by Owen Coyle from Leeds United in the summer after Wanderers were relegated from the Premier League.
He believes the squad which entered the first 12 months in the Championship was the best equipped of any to gain promotion.
But he hopes that Neil Lennon can now build another group capable of challenging for a play-off spot.
“Looking back, I do have regrets,” he said.
“When I joined Bolton, I said to friends, to anyone who’d listen, that this club was going straight back up.
“I’d seen the players in training, looked at the quality around the place, and I’d played 350-odd games at this level so I think I know what I’m on about.
“But for whatever reason it didn’t happen. We didn’t start the season right, we didn’t stay consistent enough.
"You couldn’t put your finger on why it didn’t work out.
“I’d like to think it can in the future, though. There’s no bitterness on my part. I’ve got some really good friends there like Tim (Ream) and Wheats (David Wheater) and for them, more than anything, I’d like to see Bolton go and get some success.”
The highlight of Lonergan’s Wanderers career actually came in defeat at Stamford Bridge this season.
“On a personal basis it was Chelsea in the Capital One Cup,” he said. “I know we lost the game 2-1 in the end but from a goalkeeping perspective I’ve never played that well, and that’s not blowing my own trumpet.
“It was great around Christmas time when we beat Blackburn and we all thought something was going to happen.
"It’s disappointing that it didn’t in the end.”
Source
The keeper is one of 13 players told their contract will not be extended this summer but insists he is not bitter about his exit at the Macron Stadium.
Lonergan had been the Whites’ number one choice in goal for much of the season but found himself unable to usurp Ben Amos or Adam Bogdan in the final few months of the campaign after being knocked unconscious at the City Ground.
Speaking to The Bolton News, the 31-year-old has thanked Wanderers fans for their support in the last three years and is now looking forward to his next step.
“The fans have been quality with me and I’ve loved every minute at Bolton,” he said.
“I’m not just saying it but I think the stadium, the training ground, the fans – there aren’t many better places to play your football in the country.
“I half-thought this was coming.
"When I got that concussion at Nottingham Forest something changed. I felt like there was a different vibe and since then I’ve known something wasn’t quite right.
“I’m not bitter about anything, though. I’ve been thinking it over since I’ve been out of the team and I’ve had one good offer already.
“It isn’t something I want to rush into, I wouldn’t necessarily dive into the first thing I’m offered.
"All the decisions I make have to take into account my wife and my two kids.”
Lonergan was signed by Owen Coyle from Leeds United in the summer after Wanderers were relegated from the Premier League.
He believes the squad which entered the first 12 months in the Championship was the best equipped of any to gain promotion.
But he hopes that Neil Lennon can now build another group capable of challenging for a play-off spot.
“Looking back, I do have regrets,” he said.
“When I joined Bolton, I said to friends, to anyone who’d listen, that this club was going straight back up.
“I’d seen the players in training, looked at the quality around the place, and I’d played 350-odd games at this level so I think I know what I’m on about.
“But for whatever reason it didn’t happen. We didn’t start the season right, we didn’t stay consistent enough.
"You couldn’t put your finger on why it didn’t work out.
“I’d like to think it can in the future, though. There’s no bitterness on my part. I’ve got some really good friends there like Tim (Ream) and Wheats (David Wheater) and for them, more than anything, I’d like to see Bolton go and get some success.”
The highlight of Lonergan’s Wanderers career actually came in defeat at Stamford Bridge this season.
“On a personal basis it was Chelsea in the Capital One Cup,” he said. “I know we lost the game 2-1 in the end but from a goalkeeping perspective I’ve never played that well, and that’s not blowing my own trumpet.
“It was great around Christmas time when we beat Blackburn and we all thought something was going to happen.
"It’s disappointing that it didn’t in the end.”
Source
