Sammy Ameobi has joined Nottingham Forest on a free transfer after opting to cancel his contract at Bolton Wanderers.
The 27-year-old former Newcastle United academy graduate had a year left on his contract at Bolton, but left the crisis-club having gone without pay since February.
He has penned a one-year deal at the City Ground, becoming Martin O’Neill’s first summer signing.
Ameobi spoke earlier this month, telling The Bolton News that the players, he felt, had been misled about the financial predicament the Trotters found themselves in.
Despite assurances from much-maligned owner Ken Anderson about salaries being paid, nothing came to pass and that left players like Ameobi searching for pastures new.
“I never thought it would come to this. I don’t think any of us did. But we were not being told the truth," he said.
“People have to protect themselves, protect their families. But it should never have got to that stage.
“Bolton are a club I owe a lot to. I had started to take football for granted. They gave me a second chance. I’ll always respect that.
“I am grateful to the club, grateful to the manager, grateful to the players who played with me, and especially the fans. It is such a shame it came to this, but I didn’t have a choice.”
Bolton’s problems had been bubbling along for a while, but it was the week before their final home game with Brentford which saw matters come to a head.
Players at the club went on strike and refused to play, a first in English football leading to some suggestions their game on the final day at the City Ground would not go ahead.
As it was, it did, but the Brentford game didn’t and a 1-0 win was handed to the Bees, but Ameobi admits his colleagues were afforded little choice.
“We were continually being told lies, or at least that’s how it felt,” he said.
“We were being asked to stay patient, told that something was happening, told that accounts were being unfrozen and that there was money to pay wages, but nothing.
“They wanted us to stop the process with the EFL, so we gave them an extra week to get things done. That was the last straw for me.
“To be honest, there were players who didn’t want to give them that. But for the sake of the staff who were not on the sort of wages that we earn, we decided among us that we should give them one last chance.
“It was at that point I knew it was time to move on.”
And prior to agreeing a deal with Forest, the brother of former Notts County star Shola, denied suggestions he was set for a move to China.
“I’m not sure where that came from," he said.
“I have been on holiday with a couple of friends to Japan and China, I’ve been to the embassy, but I haven’t got plans to play over there.
“I’ve no idea what’s next, to be honest, but I’ll leave it in the hands of my agent and hopefully push on next season.”
