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Joey Barton believes Billy Crellin has found in Bolton Wanderers the “perfect place” to go out on loan.
The Fleetwood boss has allowed the 20-year-old England youth international to leave for the season to gain experience in League Two.
He will reunite at Bolton with former team-mate, Matt Gilks, who joined Ian Evatt’s backroom staff this summer and who could also provide some experienced back-up competition.
Crellin is contracted at Fleetwood for the next two years and Barton reckons his move across Lancashire comes at the perfect time in his career.
“Billy committed to a long-term contract with us recently and is a player we hold in very high regard at the club,” he said.
“The most important thing for him now is going out and playing regular first-team football. There was plenty of interest for Billy this summer, but we felt a season in League Two at Bolton was the perfect place for him.
“Bolton are a big club with a highly-rated young manager in Ian Evatt and hopefully it’s a move which will prove beneficial for everyone."
Crellin played eight times for Fleetwood last season and also had nine appearances on loan at Chorley in the National League, the last of which was against Evatt’s Barrow.
He also spent time at FC United earlier in his career and has one cap for England’s Under-20 side.
Wanderers also have 18-year-old Matt Alexander on the books, who acted as understudy to Remi Matthews for the vast majority of last season.
He made two appearances in total, including keeping a clean sheet against eventual title winners Coventry City.
Source
The Fleetwood boss has allowed the 20-year-old England youth international to leave for the season to gain experience in League Two.
He will reunite at Bolton with former team-mate, Matt Gilks, who joined Ian Evatt’s backroom staff this summer and who could also provide some experienced back-up competition.
Crellin is contracted at Fleetwood for the next two years and Barton reckons his move across Lancashire comes at the perfect time in his career.
“Billy committed to a long-term contract with us recently and is a player we hold in very high regard at the club,” he said.
“The most important thing for him now is going out and playing regular first-team football. There was plenty of interest for Billy this summer, but we felt a season in League Two at Bolton was the perfect place for him.
“Bolton are a big club with a highly-rated young manager in Ian Evatt and hopefully it’s a move which will prove beneficial for everyone."
Crellin played eight times for Fleetwood last season and also had nine appearances on loan at Chorley in the National League, the last of which was against Evatt’s Barrow.
He also spent time at FC United earlier in his career and has one cap for England’s Under-20 side.
Wanderers also have 18-year-old Matt Alexander on the books, who acted as understudy to Remi Matthews for the vast majority of last season.
He made two appearances in total, including keeping a clean sheet against eventual title winners Coventry City.
Source
