The future of Bolton Wanderers goalkeeper Andy Lonergan has been a major doubt over the last few weeks, as there have been no talks about extending his contract, which comes to an end next summer. The 30-year-old is no longer the first choice goalkeeper at the club after having conceded this position to Adam Bogdan. Dougie Freedman has stated that he is still prepared to hold talks with Lonergan and get him on a new contract, but he accepts that the 30-year-old should fight for his position.

After flirting with a relegation for a couple of months, Bolton managed to end the Championship season in relative safety in the 14th position. However, the club will need to challenge for a play-off place next season in order to return to the Premier league. The £ 150 million debts have become crippling for the club in the last few years. It has not about the Freedman to strengthen the squad in the transfer window. Bolton have also sold a number of quality players in the last few transfer windows.

Freedman has accepted that a player of Lonergan’s does not deserve to be in the number two position, but he says that the 30-year-old should show the fighting spirit in order to get back to the number one spot.

“Andy knows his position and that he has a year left here. But he’s another player – and I have told him this – who I would be very comfortable sitting down with over the summer and looking to sign a new contract. But he needs to be comfortable fighting for his position. He isn’t guaranteed anything. I’m comfortable saying that because I think his game has come on. I think the way I want to play eventually,” said the Bolton manager, whose team finished with 59 points.