MARTIN Petrov reckons a lack of first team opportunities at Wanderers has left him regretting joining the club.

The Bulgarian winger, who was allowed to join Espanyol on a free transfer in January, spent two-and-a-half years at the Reebok after being signed on a Bosman from Manchester City.

And though the veteran insists he holds no grudges with either the man who signed him, Owen Coyle, nor the man who released him, Dougie Freedman, he admits to growing frustrated that he was not given a consistent run in the team.

"To be honest, I think it (joining Bolton) was not a good choice for me," Petrov said in a syndicated video interview issued by Omnisport.

“With all respect to the people at Bolton, they were professional with me. I didn't have any problems there but it was not good for me to sign there. That is my opinion.

“Some strange situations happened there, but I don't want to discuss that right now. I don't know why they were like this with me.

“The manager (Coyle), I have nothing against him personally and against the new manager (Freedman), but every time I showed them what I can do, and I know exactly what I can do on the pitch, especially in the Championship, they tell me I don't have a place to play. Sorry, but I can't accept that.”

Petrov started just eight games in league and cup this season before being allowed to leave.

And the 34-year-old - one of the highest earners on Wanderers’ books during his time at the club - was also critical of the standard of football at Championship level.

"My opinion is that the level is lower,” he said. “I expected it to be a little bit higher. I have football friends who told me the Championship is a good level, not too different from the Premier League, but I think the Championship is really low.

“I hope Bolton get back to the Premier League this year because if you miss one year, after that it is very difficult.

“You can see what's happened at clubs like Leeds and Middlesbrough, big names. How many years they have played in the second division and they can't get back. If you miss this first year, after that it is very difficult.”