Bolton Wanderers chairman Ken Anderson has moved quickly to defend the club’s transfer deadline day sale of influential forward Zach Clough, with the youngster moving to the City Ground to sign a four-and-a-half year deal.

Anderson had faced a backlash from disgruntled Trotters fans following the sale of the highly-rated youngster and the Wanderers chief has now moved to clear up the finer details.

The statement has confirmed that Forest paid a large chunk of the £3 million as an upfront payment, whilst the transfer also includes ‘further bonuses’ and a sell-on fee, which would be due to the League One outfit should Clough leave the Reds in the future.

Clough made an impressive debut in the red of Forest during Saturday’s 2-1 win over Aston Villa and he looks set to be a big player for the East Midlands-based outfit over the coming years.

Bolton will now move on from the sale of their prized asset and Anderson tried his hardest to keep Clough at the club.

A statement courtesy of the official website said: “There have been some comments via social media and in the press about the sale of Zach Clough last Tuesday.

“As previously stated, I have to make some very difficult and unpleasant decisions to try and achieve a sustainable business plan for the club going forward.

“Obviously like everyone else I was extremely disappointed to see Zach leave.

"But Nottingham Forest were very persistent in their pursuit of him and after rejecting their initial approaches, the ever increasing sums of money being offered to both Zach and the club, I had to weigh up the financial benefits for the club of selling him.

"And regrettably, following Dean's (co-owner Dean Holdsworth) refusal last week to contribute any funds to financially support the club, alongside me, I was left with no alternative but to try and reach the best deal possible with Forest.

Anderson also confirmed that he did not go looking for a sale with the transfer window about to close, confirming that Forest were the only side to come forward with a solid bid.

He continued: “I would mention that despite all the comments made by people who have no knowledge of what the fee was, or how we were selling off the 'crown jewels' Forest were the only club who made an offer”