JOSH Vela has wished Wanderers well as he starts a new chapter in his career at Hibernian.

Ready for a fresh challenge after 17 years man-and-boy at Bolton, the midfielder admits he did not leave the club in the way he would have wanted.

With uncertainty starting to build on the takeover and players still unpaid by the club since March, the 25-year-old is concerned what the future may hold for the Whites.

“Last season at Bolton wasn’t great on a personal level and the problems there have been well documented,” he told Hibs.

““I hope there are better times ahead because the club means a lot to me.

“The staff did so much to help me out over the years and I had a good relationship with the supporters, so they all deserve to enjoy their football again.”

Vela has been working with a personal trainer to stay fit over the summer and also had interest from Championship side Hull City, among others.

He joins another former Wanderer at Easter Road – albeit one who’s time at the club was curtailed in dramatic fashion.

Christian Doidge was due to sign permanently at Bolton until the move collapsed in January and a high-profile war of words ensued between ex-Wanderers chairman, Ken Anderson, and his opposite number at Forest Green, Dale Vince.

The striker moved north of the border this summer but gave his new surroundings a glowing appraisal.

“Christian has been on at me,” Vela said. “He sent a few messages, telling me to get myself up the road, what a great set-up there is here and how I’d like the gaffer (Paul Heckingbottom).

“He’s not wrong. Like I said, my first impressions of the gaffer were good, and the training ground is top class.

Christian is a really good lad who will be popular in the dressing room. He’s lively and likes a laugh at the right times and he’s a really good player. I’d expect him to score a good few goals up here because he certainly has it in him.”