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CONNOR Hall admits he “lost motivation” last season afterWanderers’ financial issues left him stranded outside the first team.
Even though a loan spell at Accrington had not gone entirely according to plan, the young striker looked set for a second spell at the Wham Stadium in January.
But the high-profile collapse of Christian Doidge’s move from Forest Green, and the club’s failure to grab Ched Evans on loan from Sheffield United, meant Phil Parkinson had to cancel Hall’s plans and keep him as cover.
Speaking about the frustration of ending up back outside the first team picture at Bolton, the 21-year-old admitted salary problems also played a part in him losing his way.
“I was hoping I’d get a chance,” he told The Bolton News. “There was only Josh (Magennis) and Clayts (Clayton Donaldson) ahead of me and when Josh got injured I got on the bench.
“But being honest when I got back in January I wasn’t match-sharp. I was lacking in a bit of fitness because I hadn’t played much at Accrington.
“I felt I was doing well in training but I was getting frustrated that one day I’d be with the first team, then the next back with the 23s. I lost a bit of motivation, I think.
“And on top of that, not getting paid has a massive impact.
“None of us are going to use that as an excuse but it definitely doesn’t help.
“Younger lads like myself haven’t saved up as much money as you might if you were one of the older players, so it has been tough. But I got into training every day.
“I think if I’d have been playing at the time I wouldn’t have felt it quite as badly. Things just weren’t going for me. But hopefully this season, with new owners, it will be better. A little bit more stable.”
Hall was not allowed to sign elsewhere on loan because EFL rules say you cannot play for three clubs in a single season.
The one appearance he made for Bolton came in the Carabao Cup at Leeds United – an opportunity he will never forget but also a rude awakening to the demands of senior football.
“Even though I gave my best against Leeds, I felt like if that game had come at the end of last season when I was scoring goals, feeling extra confident, I would have done better. I’d have been sharper,” he said.
“I only found out the day before the game that I’d be playing. I was buzzing, of course, but they were the best team in the league at that stage and we’d made changes so the game was a bit fragmented.
“I wasn’t disappointed in how I played but I know I could have done some things better. It’s easy to say now but when you’re out there playing in front of a large crowd, you don’t realise just how quick the tempo of the game actually is.”
When Hall was offered the chance to go out on loan there were several options in League One and Two. The youngster chose the higher level of football knowing game time would not be guaranteed, and so it proved as just five of his 13 appearances in all competitions at Accrington were starts.
“I remember speaking to Mark Little about it before I went, and he said that if I went into League One and got the opportunity it would be a better chance to test myself,” he said.
“The problem I had was that I’d played for Bolton against Leeds and the rules say you can’t play for three sides in one season. That killed me a little bit.
“I did want to go back to Accrington but because of the situation with Christian Doidge it was a bit difficult. The gaffer was trying to get some cover but never managed to get anyone in.
“The upside for me now is that having played in League One last season I know I can handle it.
“I got some football at Accrington and I’m confident if I can get an opportunity at Bolton this season I can cope in this league.”
https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/17724822.bolton-striker-connor-hall-on-late-pay-and-selection-issues/?ref=mr&lp=2
Even though a loan spell at Accrington had not gone entirely according to plan, the young striker looked set for a second spell at the Wham Stadium in January.
But the high-profile collapse of Christian Doidge’s move from Forest Green, and the club’s failure to grab Ched Evans on loan from Sheffield United, meant Phil Parkinson had to cancel Hall’s plans and keep him as cover.
Speaking about the frustration of ending up back outside the first team picture at Bolton, the 21-year-old admitted salary problems also played a part in him losing his way.
“I was hoping I’d get a chance,” he told The Bolton News. “There was only Josh (Magennis) and Clayts (Clayton Donaldson) ahead of me and when Josh got injured I got on the bench.
“But being honest when I got back in January I wasn’t match-sharp. I was lacking in a bit of fitness because I hadn’t played much at Accrington.
“I felt I was doing well in training but I was getting frustrated that one day I’d be with the first team, then the next back with the 23s. I lost a bit of motivation, I think.
“And on top of that, not getting paid has a massive impact.
“None of us are going to use that as an excuse but it definitely doesn’t help.
“Younger lads like myself haven’t saved up as much money as you might if you were one of the older players, so it has been tough. But I got into training every day.
“I think if I’d have been playing at the time I wouldn’t have felt it quite as badly. Things just weren’t going for me. But hopefully this season, with new owners, it will be better. A little bit more stable.”
Hall was not allowed to sign elsewhere on loan because EFL rules say you cannot play for three clubs in a single season.
The one appearance he made for Bolton came in the Carabao Cup at Leeds United – an opportunity he will never forget but also a rude awakening to the demands of senior football.
“Even though I gave my best against Leeds, I felt like if that game had come at the end of last season when I was scoring goals, feeling extra confident, I would have done better. I’d have been sharper,” he said.
“I only found out the day before the game that I’d be playing. I was buzzing, of course, but they were the best team in the league at that stage and we’d made changes so the game was a bit fragmented.
“I wasn’t disappointed in how I played but I know I could have done some things better. It’s easy to say now but when you’re out there playing in front of a large crowd, you don’t realise just how quick the tempo of the game actually is.”
When Hall was offered the chance to go out on loan there were several options in League One and Two. The youngster chose the higher level of football knowing game time would not be guaranteed, and so it proved as just five of his 13 appearances in all competitions at Accrington were starts.
“I remember speaking to Mark Little about it before I went, and he said that if I went into League One and got the opportunity it would be a better chance to test myself,” he said.
“The problem I had was that I’d played for Bolton against Leeds and the rules say you can’t play for three sides in one season. That killed me a little bit.
“I did want to go back to Accrington but because of the situation with Christian Doidge it was a bit difficult. The gaffer was trying to get some cover but never managed to get anyone in.
“The upside for me now is that having played in League One last season I know I can handle it.
“I got some football at Accrington and I’m confident if I can get an opportunity at Bolton this season I can cope in this league.”
https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/17724822.bolton-striker-connor-hall-on-late-pay-and-selection-issues/?ref=mr&lp=2