VICE-captain Louis Critchlow admits it feels strange Bolton not having promotion or survival to play for.
The Avenue Street men are sixth in North Lancs & Cumbria with no chance of going up or down, which is quite a contrast to recent years.
“In the last six years we have had something to play for,” said Critchlow.
“This year we haven’t which is unusual for us and hopefully we can hit next season hard and try to get back up again. They are bringing in a salary cap next season so teams who pay won’t be able to spend as much, which will help us.”
Critchlow is one of several players sidelined at the moment and Bolton lost second rower Tony McLoughlin to injury after just 10 minutes of Saturday’s 19-14 home defeat to fourth-placed Wigton.
A Will Bate try and Mike Mills conversion put Bolton 7-0 up. The visitors went 19-7 ahead, helped by yellow cards to Bate and Ash Cooper, before Joe Smith scored and Mills again converted.
Bolton are away to bottom club Silloth on Saturday.
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