Friday 3 May 2019 19:02, UK
David Wheater believes the decision to call off Bolton’s game with Brentford was sensible after claiming 15-year-old youth players would have had to turn out for the relegated Championship side.
The encounter, originally scheduled for Saturday April 27, was initally postponed when Bolton's players refused to play after not receiving their April wages.
It is understood the PFA then stepped in to make loan payments to ensure the fixture could be fulfilled - along with Bolton's final Championship encounter away to Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
However, the rearranged game against Brentford has now been scrapped by the EFL after the club were issued with a Prohibition Notice from their Safety Advisory Group (SAG). Brentford were awarded the three points and a 1-0 victory.
Through a combination of ownership turmoil and close season holidays for both sets of players, Wheater admits he never felt the game would go ahead anyway.
"I didn't think the Brentford game was going to go ahead," Wheater told Sky Sports.
"With both sides having foreign lads going back home, neither side would have wanted to play it.
"It's a sensible decision and the best for everyone - get this season out of the way, get the club sorted and hopefully we can have a better campaign next year."
Wheater also suggested if the game had gone ahead as planned it could have seen a number of Bolton's youth squad turning out for the side.
"I got told by the youth team coach that 15-year-olds were going to play," Wheater added.
"You couldn't expect them to go and play in the Championship - they're not ready for that and it wouldn't have been good for them or anyone."
