Sammy Ameobi has called time on his Bolton career with a pending move to Nottingham Forest looking like a done deal
Sammy Ameobi has become one of the ever-increasing number of players to head for the exit at Bolton this summer.
The winger cancelled his contract early after not receiving full pay since February.
Ameobi’s departure to Martin O’Neil’s Nottingham Forest is surely going to leave Bolton worse off, especially in League One, but you can hardly blame him for his decision.
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Speaking to The Bolton News last week, Ameobi said: “Bolton are a club I owe a lot to. I had started to take football for granted. They gave me a second chance. I’ll always respect that.
“I am grateful to the club, grateful to the manager, grateful to the players who played with me, and especially the fans. It is such a shame it came to this, but I didn’t have a choice.”
Ameobi joined Bolton on loan in 2016 before returning on a permanent deal a year later.
His decision to quit the club comes after several months of uncertainty over Bolton’s finances that has culminated in administration.
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Ameobi places the blame squarely at former owner Ken Anderson’s door: “We were continually being told lies, or at least that’s how it felt” he told The Bolton News
“We were being asked to stay patient, told that something was happening, told that accounts were being unfrozen and that there was money to pay wages, but nothing.”
It’s not surprising that Ameobi has decided to leave Bolton. After the rotten season the club has endured, you can’t blame him.
It’s a huge shame as Ameobi is one of the few players Bolton had who could pull off a trick or two and show a bit flair.
On his day, Sammy Ameobi showed hints of true class. The trouble is, those days were too few and far between towards the end of his time at Bolton.
Ameobi made 91 appearances for Phil Parkinson’s Bolton side and scored 8 goals in that time.
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Some of the goals Sammy has scored for Bolton in his three years at the club have been sublime and Wanderers will desperately miss his thunderous left foot.
Ameobi would probably have followed Bolton down to League One if the club wasn’t in such a dire financial situation. But when there are livelihoods on the line and families to look after it makes sense to search out more reliable employment.
Hopefully, for Sammy, he’ll find that and more at Forest and we wish him well.
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