DARREN Pratley has appealed to Wanderers’ ownership to put an end to the uncertainty which has gripped the club in recent weeks.

The club captain has lifted the lid on confusion felt by players who were promised the managerial situation would be solved soon after Neil Lennon’s departure on March 15.

Nearly two months later the Whites are still no closer to naming their next boss, with interim coaching team Jimmy Phillips, Peter Reid and Nicky Spooner stepping down after the final game of the season – a 1-0 defeat at Fulham on Saturday.

“In the meeting we had with the owners at the start, they told us we would find out within a week about a new manager,” he told The Bolton News. “That was maybe six weeks ago now.

“So for you guys (the media) it will probably be a long summer trying to find out who the manager will be.

“No-one knows anything. Staff have been told their future now, players will get told Tuesday in their meeting, we should find out more then.

“It would be nice to know who’s going to take charge, what programmes we’re on over the summer and when we’re actually coming back.

“It’s going to be a long, hard season and it’ll be a lot longer if we don’t get things sorted.

“We need a structure in place. What are Bolton going to be, because good Bolton teams have been hard to beat, get in people’s faces.

“We need an identity, what are we going to be? Rather than off the cuff.”

Adding to the issues at Craven Cottage, several first-team staff were told before they travelled to West London their services would no longer be required.

Under-21 coach Iain Brunskill, fitness coach Chris Short, goalkeeping coach Bobby Mimms, sports rehabilitator Dave Dean and head of sports science Mark Leather are understood to be among those who will leave the club – although some could stay on for up to six months to serve out their notice.

Pratley praised the backroom for helping prepare for the Fulham game professionally.

“Getting told on the Friday when you’re about to get on a coach for a five-hour journey, we’re only human so it wouldn’t help anyone,” he said.

“If you’d been told you were getting sacked before a game, would you enjoy travelling down there?

“It’s yet another thing to happen at the club but to be fair to the people concerned they have stayed so professional about it, from the fitness coaches to the masseurs.

“The masseurs could have sacked everyone off, not bothered giving anyone a rub, but they did their job.

“It’s their job at the end of the day and you’re taking food out of their family’s mouths. It’s gutting.

"I think they’ve released a statement saying there will be more – so no-one knows what’s going on.”