Bolton striker Josh Magennis has opened up on the challenges of playing for the club amidst the backdrop of uncertainty around the club, admitting it has been "tough" to do so.

Magennis and his teammates, as well as the whole of the club's staff, have seen their wages paid late this season as the financially troubled club look to get a takeover deal completed in order to survive a winding-up order brought against the club by HMRC.

The striker, who scored an 87th minute winner over Belarus on Sunday as Northern Ireland recorded back to back victories in their opening two games of Euro 2020 qualifying, spoke to The Belfast Telegraph about his experience playing for Bolton this season, saying: "It's obviously tough when you don't get paid on time.

"It's easy to say just get on with the game, but even though we play football and professional footballers have a job to do, it's hard not to get distracted by what happens off the field, especially when you don't get paid."

Speaking about how he and his Bolton teammates had dealt with the situation, Magennis revealed: "A lot of lads are in different positions. We just don't know the ins and outs. The team have done the best we can.

"There haven't been any in-house arguments. We just come to work, get our heads down and listen to what the gaffer has to say, and try to get the result on Saturday or Tuesday. Unfortunately, it hasn't been the case, but when I go back that will be the full focus."

Bolton sit 23rd in the Championship, eight points from safety with eight games to go, and face a resumption of the hearing into their winding up order at the high court on 3rd April.

The verdict

The situation Magennis and his teammates find themselves is not one any footballer would ever expect to be in. It has surely had an effect on Bolton's season, and it is hard to see that changing between now and the end of the campaign.

With League One now looking close to certain, whoever owns the club in the summer will have a big rebuilding job on their hands.