THE clouds have been gathering around Wanderers these last few months as financial realities start to hit home, but here in the Austrian hillsides there were a few rays of sunshine peeking through the gloom.

Be it uncertainty over the club’s ownership or the cash flow problems biting into Neil Lennon’s recruitment, it has been tough to keep a cheery disposition if you happen to follow Bolton.

But as the new season beckons there are signs that a few things might just be falling into place.

Lennon won’t read much into the result. Defeat came only after a soft penalty was awarded three minutes from time, converted by Roman Kienast, who was then sent off for a late challenge on Oscar Threlkeld.

He won’t worry unduly about the defensive fragility shown in the first half by a makeshift back four – although it was a damning indictment of the depth of options he has at present.

It was an evening to concentrate on the positives, of which there were a few to choose from.

Zach Clough – back after four months out with a dislocated shoulder – barely missed a beat. Some of his touches on the ball brought ripples of applause from a mainly Austrian crowd, and he came within a post’s width of scoring with an audacious turn midway through the first half.

The little magician struck it off well with Gary Madine, who looked hungry, showed for the ball and won the vast percentage of his aerial battles to give his little strike partner something to feed off.

Wanderers trailed 1-0 at the break, Kristijan Dobras drilling low past Ben Amos after markers had failed to heed a corner routine that Sturm had used three times already.

Amos had kept his side in it with some important blocks, picking up where he had left off on loan last season.

Tom Walker had also gone close, his free-kick pushed round the post by Michael Esser, as had Madine, who headed straight at the keeper from Liam Feeney’s cross.

After the break the introduction of Jay Spearing, Mark Davies and Darren Pratley in midfield made a big difference to Wanderers’ possession.

Davies made an immediate impact, dispossessing a Sturm defender and rounding the keeper before slotting in an equaliser from an acute angle.

Scruffy though it may have been, it was the kind of speed of thought Wanderers missed so much in their midfield at the tail end of last season.

He wasn’t alone in impressing during the second period.

New signing Derik Osede also provided a composed presence at the back, making a few telling interceptions. The Spanish youngster was never seriously tested – that will come in time – but first impressions were good.

Trialist Stephen Dobbie came on for Madine at the break but struggled to get into the game. The Scot hit one shot on the turn which dipped just over the bar – but he will hope for a better show in Monday’s game against SC Paderborn.

The penalty award three minutes from time put a dampener on a decent second-half display.

Moxey certainly felt for Andreas Gruber’s shirt as he looked to get into the penalty area but the incident happened so far away from the ball even the Sturm striker looked surprised to get it.

Once Kienast had beaten Ross Fitzsimmons from the spot he chose to dive in on Threlkeld, sparking a mass pushing and shoving contest that briefly looked like spiralling out of control.

With his players and staff wading in I could have sworn I saw a smirk pass Lennon’s lips – was this a sign his squad were coming together in a way they rarely did last season?

The situation is far from ideal for the Whites boss, whose hands are tied financially, but there are signs he is making some progress working with that he has got.

With Tim Ream, David Wheater, Josh Vela, Max Clayton, Liam Trotter and Emile Heskey to come back into the mix, he need only hope that last season’s injury issues can be avoided and perhaps, just perhaps, we can start to be optimistic once again.

Wanderers - (First half): Amos; Maher, White, Dervite, Twardzik; Feeney, Danns, Medo, Walker; Clough, Madine.

(Second half): Amos (Fitzsimmons 60); Threlkeld, Taylor, Derik, Moxey; Pratley, Spearing, Davies; Kellett, Dobbie, Hall.