Home
Josh Magennis has revealed the trying circumstances which led to him demanding an exit at Wanderers.
The Northern Ireland international striker sealed a move to Championship side Hull City earlier this month for a nominal fee – just a week after refusing to play on the opening day of the season against Wycombe.
Magennis, signed for £200,000 the previous summer from Charlton Athletic, was Bolton’s top scorer last season on seven goals, three of which came in the FA Cup against Walsall.
But he admits the mental strain of going five months unpaid by the club grew too strong in the end, forcing him to manufacture a route away from the UniBol.
“There were three players that handed in our notice,” he said, referring to Luca Connell and Erhun Oztumer. “The club appealed the notice and it had to go to a tribunal. Me and my representation were pretty certain we’d win our appeal.
“It wasn’t just Bolton had been relegated and I demanded to leave. That was never the case.
“Five months was a long time. I tried to stay as professional as I could and see out the season but when I came back in pre-season it was just snowballing.
“It was getting too much and if the opportunity came up where I could leave then I had to take it.
“I wasn’t just jumping ship to any team. It had to be right for me and my family so when Hull City came calling, I knew it was right.”
Magennis admits his family life was affected by the pay issues which started at the turn of 2019 under previous owner Ken Anderson, and continued throughout the spring and summer.
Watching the club set up a foodbank for non-football staff to access vital supplies, and then the impact of administration, the 28-year-old believes concentrating on football was made practically impossible.
“It was very hard,” he said. “Not just for the players but the manager and coaching staff. The working staff as well, around the hotel and stuff.
“When I went there it started off really well. The history of the club is fantastic and the fan base is brilliant as well.
“But there became a point where it wasn’t just affecting me financially, it was more mental and emotional. Thankfully Hull were interested and it’s something I wanted. Thank God it happened.
“In all it was five months where we didn’t get paid by the club. We got the equivalent of two half-months off the PFA, so we basically got paid one month of the five.
“At the end of July we managed to get paid but it was only 70 per cent. We’re still owed another 30 per cent of what we were due.
“It’s hard. Your brain tries to tell you to get on with it and just play football, but for a variety of players it wasn’t just financial. It was affecting your family life and affecting you personally.
“When you start taking that home to your family life then it was getting too much for quite a lot of us. That’s when it just sort of capitulated.
“It was like a snowball, one problem rolled into another problem.
“For me it wasn’t so much financial. I’ve always been in a position where I’ve been looked after so for me it was more mental and emotional. That’s when it became too much for me to handle.
“The lads that are still there are going through a lot. Even the young lads. It’s not a nice place to be in, especially for a club that helped found the Football League. It’s crazy. I just hope they’re able to turn it around and get back to where they were.”
Source
The Northern Ireland international striker sealed a move to Championship side Hull City earlier this month for a nominal fee – just a week after refusing to play on the opening day of the season against Wycombe.
Magennis, signed for £200,000 the previous summer from Charlton Athletic, was Bolton’s top scorer last season on seven goals, three of which came in the FA Cup against Walsall.
But he admits the mental strain of going five months unpaid by the club grew too strong in the end, forcing him to manufacture a route away from the UniBol.
“There were three players that handed in our notice,” he said, referring to Luca Connell and Erhun Oztumer. “The club appealed the notice and it had to go to a tribunal. Me and my representation were pretty certain we’d win our appeal.
“It wasn’t just Bolton had been relegated and I demanded to leave. That was never the case.
“Five months was a long time. I tried to stay as professional as I could and see out the season but when I came back in pre-season it was just snowballing.
“It was getting too much and if the opportunity came up where I could leave then I had to take it.
“I wasn’t just jumping ship to any team. It had to be right for me and my family so when Hull City came calling, I knew it was right.”
Magennis admits his family life was affected by the pay issues which started at the turn of 2019 under previous owner Ken Anderson, and continued throughout the spring and summer.
Watching the club set up a foodbank for non-football staff to access vital supplies, and then the impact of administration, the 28-year-old believes concentrating on football was made practically impossible.
“It was very hard,” he said. “Not just for the players but the manager and coaching staff. The working staff as well, around the hotel and stuff.
“When I went there it started off really well. The history of the club is fantastic and the fan base is brilliant as well.
“But there became a point where it wasn’t just affecting me financially, it was more mental and emotional. Thankfully Hull were interested and it’s something I wanted. Thank God it happened.
“In all it was five months where we didn’t get paid by the club. We got the equivalent of two half-months off the PFA, so we basically got paid one month of the five.
“At the end of July we managed to get paid but it was only 70 per cent. We’re still owed another 30 per cent of what we were due.
“It’s hard. Your brain tries to tell you to get on with it and just play football, but for a variety of players it wasn’t just financial. It was affecting your family life and affecting you personally.
“When you start taking that home to your family life then it was getting too much for quite a lot of us. That’s when it just sort of capitulated.
“It was like a snowball, one problem rolled into another problem.
“For me it wasn’t so much financial. I’ve always been in a position where I’ve been looked after so for me it was more mental and emotional. That’s when it became too much for me to handle.
“The lads that are still there are going through a lot. Even the young lads. It’s not a nice place to be in, especially for a club that helped found the Football League. It’s crazy. I just hope they’re able to turn it around and get back to where they were.”
Source