JEFF King paid thanks to coaches David Lee and Tony Kelly as Wanderers go out to become Under-23s champions at Nottingham Forest tonight.

Speaking on behalf of the dressing room, the midfielder said it would be ample reward for the academy staff if the young Whites could claim a final victory of the campaign at the City Ground.

“I have a special connection with David Lee and Tony Kelly, I feel like I have got freedom to play,” he told The Bolton News after Tuesday’s win in the play-off semi-final against Charlton. “Every one of the lads will say the same. They are like father figures and their man-management skills are class with us.

“After the game they got us all in together and said ‘you’ve worked hard for each other but we need one more push for the final.’

“Our aim was to get the title but now we’ve done that we want to be champions of the north and south. We want to give the club that reputation. And we’re more than good enough to do it, too.”

Forest beat Palace in their semi-final but needed extra time to do it - and with just a couple of days’ turnaround, Lee feels beating Charlton 3-1 in 90 minutes could work to their advantage.

“It’s great we didn’t go to extra time, and so there is another 30 minutes of football in their legs,” he said.

“We won’t worry about the opposition. If we give the same passion and commitment as we did against Charlton, we won’t go far wrong, I’m sure of that.”