WANDERERS’ pre-season friendly against Morecambe on Tuesday, July 17, has been cancelled after the League Two club admitted its playing surface would not be ready in time.

A statement issued by both clubs this morning confirmed the friendly would now be brought to Lostock and played behind closed doors.

Bolton's read: "Bolton Wanderers' pre-season friendly against Morecambe FC at the Globe Arena scheduled for Tuesday 17 July has been cancelled at the Shrimps’ request.

"The Globe Arena pitch, which has undergone major refurbishment works over the close season, is not yet ready to host a football match.

"The two clubs have arranged an alternative ‘behind-closed-doors’ fixture which will be played at Wanderers’ Lostock training ground."

Phil Parkinson’s pre-season has already had a disjointed start, with a player strike over unpaid bonuses and wages forcing the cancellation of last weekend’s game at St Mirren, which came at the end of a training camp in Scotland.

A patched-up side of Under-23s, 18s 16s and trialists played at Atherton Colls on Tuesday but Parkinson was able to stage an 11 v 11 match on the training ground.

It is expected all first team players will get their first 45 minutes at Halifax on Saturday.