PHIL Parkinson says denying Adam Le Fondre his move to Australia would have been “the wrong thing to do”.

The Wanderers boss insists he had no idea the 31-year-old striker was looking to move elsewhere before he requested the remaining year of his contract was cancelled on Monday to facilitate a move to Sydney FC.

Le Fondre has been offered a lucrative three-year deal in the A-League and is one of the top earners in the squad at Bolton.

The former Reading front man has been a terrace favourite during two loan stints, which then became a permanent move in the summer of 2017.

But Parkinson has asked that the player’s popularity does not mask the fact he requested to move away from the University of Bolton Stadium.

“Alfie is a player our supporters liked but they have got to respect Alfie as well,” said the Bolton boss. When you get an opportunity at his age to get a three-year contract and an experience him and his wife want to take then we have to respect him as a person.

“To keep someone against their will would have been the wrong thing to do. We would have had a player who wanted to be elsewhere.

“It does cause me a problem because over the weekend I signed two players but then that happens on Monday.”

Reports in Australia say Le Fondre is being recruited to replace Brazilian striker Bobo, who recently signed for Turkish side Alanyaspor.

But a statement from the club, released overnight, denied that a deal had been concluded.

“Adam is one of a number of players we are talking to but at the moment no deal has been completed. We are continuiing to discuss options with a number of players and will confirm to our members first as soon as any deal is done,” a club spokesperson told foxsports.com.au.

Wanderers released their own statement in the middle of Tuesday night’s 2-1 Carabao Cup defeat to Leeds United confirming they had given permission to the striker to pursue a move abroad.

“Adam Le Fondre has been given permission by Bolton Wanderers Football Club to speak with a club overseas regarding a possible transfer after being presented with an “opportunity of a lifetime,” he said.

“The striker, who did not feature in Wanderers’ Carabao Cup game at Leeds United earlier on Tuesday evening, has expressed a strong desire to take on this new challenge.

“Taking all factors into consideration, Bolton Wanderers Football Club has reluctantly agreed to allow the player to leave the club with immediate effect to pursue his ambitions.

“Everybody at Bolton Wanderers Football Club would like to thank Adam for his excellent service to the club and we wish him and his family all the best for the future.”