MICHAEL Ricketts fans in Bolton are suddenly thin on the ground, according to our latest Wanderers website poll.

They were asked how many goals Ricketts, sold for £3.5m to Middlesbrough on Friday, will score before the end of the season:

And 65 out of the 156 who voted on Monday hope he won't find the net at all!

We asked:

How many goals will Michael Ricketts score for Middlesbrough this season?

Votes

0 65

1 12

2 17

3 19

4 9

5 10

6 7

7 2

8 4

9 1

10 3

More 7

Total 156

On Saturday Wanderers fans told the print version what they thought.

Bolton Mayor John Walsh, a lifelong supporter, said: "I'm sorry that Ricketts is no longer a Wanderers player.

"The club has given him a chance to play in the Premiership and has put him on the international scene.

"But players have come and gone in the past and the club has always survived."

His comments were echoed by Kath Brown, membership secretary of the Bolton Wanderers Supporters Association.

She said: "If the Wanderers are able to find a replacement then Ricketts' departure will be the best thing for the club.

"If a player wants to go then eventually that's what has to happen. Ricketts hasn't scored as much as he did last season and things didn't seem to be going well for him."

Bolton Wanderers fans also gave a mixed reaction out on the town's streets.

Supporter Ian Strickland, whose son is named Sam after manager Sam Allardyce, said: "I don't think he should have gone now."

The 40-year-old Heaton painter-and-decorator was one of a number of fans who said Ricketts should have stayed until the end of the season.

He added: "He should have waited. We've got to really concentrate on staying in the Premiership now."

But student David Adams, aged 19, who used to live next door to Burnden Park, said: "I'm proud of him really.

"He's done a lot for the club and he wants to improve himself, so if he wants to go then I don't see anything wrong with that.

"But I would have preferred it if he'd stayed until the end of the season."

Casino croupier Neil McCabe, aged 24, from Halliwell, said: "I think Ricketts probably realised how good he had to be when he got an England call-up.

"Maybe that knocked his confidence. He should be grateful for what Bolton has done for him."

And 25-year-old Andy Broadbent, also from Halliwell, said: "I don't think he ever wanted to play for Bolton. I'm glad he's gone because he never put his heart into it."

Engineer Ian Fletcher, aged 26, from Smithills, was also glad Ricketts had gone.

The lifelong fan told the Bolton Evening News: "The Wanderers have done everything for Ricketts but he's been rubbish. He's not done enough for them."

But removal man Stefan Dean, aged 24, also from Smithills, said: "I wanted Ricketts to stay until the end of the season.

"He was the best striker we had and the only one who could score."