Keith Hill searching for backroom replacements at Bolton

Keith Hill’s staff is now two men down after goalkeeper coach Butler and fitness and conditioning coach Allamby joined former Bolton boss Phil Parkinson at Sunderland.

Academy goalkeeper coach Ben Williams and first team performance analyst Kristian Aldred have stepped up as cover in the last two games – but Hill is now actively seeking reinforcements.

“I hope to replace them and we’re in the process of sounding people out,” he told The Bolton News.

“It’s important that we get people in as quick as we possibly can.

“The staff who have stepped in have been brilliant. Ben Williams has been superb.

“We lost Nick as late as Thursday but Kristian (Aldred) has done a brilliant job. Transitionally it’s quite smooth but we do need one or two staff just to support the things that we’re doing in those departments. We’ll get there when we can do.”

Allamby wished Wanderers well on his departure, confirmed on Friday evening.

“Best wishes to all my former colleagues at Bolton Wanderers going forward,” he said on his Twitter account. “Great people who have become good friends.”

Meanwhile, Hill has voiced his disappointment that Wanderers were unable to get back into Saturday’s game against Plymouth, having gone behind just 11 minutes in.

Looking for a response from his players this week as they prepare for a potentially pivotal meeting with MK Dons, Hill wants to see a reaction from his players which underlines the improvement they have made since his arrival.

“The game is 90 minutes – as a boxer you don’t get affected with the first punch, you’ve seen good ones get off the canvass and win matches,” he said.

“It’s just a goal, it shouldn’t have been irretrievable. The result is gone now, so we’ll move on to this week’s training almost ignoring that if I can. The game itself has no impact on what we are trying to achieve in the league.

“It’s important I let it slide. I love a cup run but there are bigger things to concentrate on at the football club.”