KEITH Hill has explained why he came out on the offensive after watching his side beaten 2-0 by Rochdale at the weekend.

Eyebrows were raised among Wanderers fans as the Bolton boss hinted at discord within the club, the supporters and the media in his post-match press conference.

But as the Whites head to Lincoln City looking to get themselves back on track, Hill insists no harm was meant by his plea for all and sundry to “get on the same page.”

“I can’t apologise for being emotional about the day itself or the lack of reward for the players’ efforts,” he told The Bolton News.

“My support of the club, the staff, the local area is passionate and sometimes it’s too raw.

“But it’s a love and a protection mechanism I have used to support the players and the people who employ me.

“I have not meant to offend anybody. If I have and they can’t deal with it then unfortunately that’s life.

“Sometimes you put yourself in a position of what people consider weakness on purpose to see if people are really going to support you, or the methodology of the new BWFC.”

Wanderers are at the halfway stage of their own season in League One and have a 17-point gap between themselves and safety.

Speaking of his frustration at Spotland, Hill said he is determined to keep united front in the months to come.

“It was me being me,” he said. “My mum’s had to deal with that all my life.

“I am not afraid to be passionate, receiving criticism, giving it out, or asking for a reaction from everybody. Am I brave or stupid putting myself in a more vulnerable position having been beaten on Saturday? I am looking for reaction and I need the support of everyone, including the players who I trust immensely, and the supporters, who I adore, and the people I work for.

“To enjoy the good times you have to get through a lot of hard, hard work, and that’s what we are going through at the moment. We can’t beat each other up about results.”

Hill accepted, however, that his reference to Wanderers’ past achievements under the reigns of Sam Allardyce and Phil Parkinson were misjudged.

“I can’t take away the success of this football club, massive success, which was thoroughly enjoyed. I can’t keep referring back to history so I do apologise for that. We are trying to create a new history.

“It was off the back of a difficult week and emotionally on Saturday I’d been beaten by a team I’d been at for so long. I hate losing games with a passion and if I ever get used to it then I might as well retire.

“Watching a team that I was more than partly responsible for building really hurt me. And I don’t think the players deserved to be beaten 2-0.

“I have got passion and a desire, I hate getting beat. My job is to try and build a siege mentality, a collective all-inclusive one so that we can move forward and everybody enjoys the success.”