MICHAEL Ricketts knows only too well that he is in danger of suffering a backlash from Bolton fans starting with the home clash with Everton on Tuesday.

Life at the Reebok could become a shade uncomfortable for the Wanderers' top scorer. Supporters, as they showed with their boos and jeers at Newcastle on Wednesday night, do not take kindly to players who openly express their desire to leave, whatever their reasons.

And in handing in a formal transfer request this week, Ricketts has confirmed officially what has been suspected for some time. He wants away.

But, as Sam Allardyce pointed out so succinctly when he granted the request, you do not always get what you want.

If Spurs - in the absence of any other prospective buyer - fail to meet Wanderers' valuation before the transfer window shuts next Friday, Ricketts will remain a Bolton player at least for the remainder of the season.

Not an ideal situation but not particularly unusual either.

Ricketts will not be the first player to find his commitment under the closest scrutiny and he will not be the last.

How he reacts to the disappointment of not getting the move he wants will determine the nature of his relationship with the fans. If he knuckles down, scores the goals that keep Wanderers clear of the relegation zone, it will be a smooth ride. But if supporters - or his team-mates for that matter - think his mind is elsewhere, they will let him know, in no uncertain manner.

Allardyce, who was irritated rather than shocked by last week's developments, believes the 24-year-old Brummie has the strength of character to handle whatever fate has in store. Indeed, if Ricketts stays and can produce the form that recently delivered four goals in five games, all this unseemly business could prove a blessing in disguise.

Wanderers stay up, Ricketts enhances his reputation as a prominent Premiership striker and gets the big money move he desires. Everyone's a winner.

All he can do in the meantime is hope an already difficult situation is not further damaged by ill-timed actions or unhelpful comments.

We don't need to go too far back in Wanderers' history to illustrate the point.

Scouse sidekicks Jason McAteer and Alan Stubbs were the rising stars of the 1995 promotion-winning side. They were instantly and justifiably marked down for bigger and better things and had their ambitions fuelled by interest from the top Premiership clubs.

They were the best of friends and shared the same advisers but they were individuals and each handled his situation differently. McAteer kept his own counsel, did not appear to let the speculation affect him in any way and, ultimately, secured his dream move to Liverpool with the well-wishes of appreciative and grateful Bolton fans ringing in his ears.

Stubbs, no less a talent and arguably a more influential player, actually riled supporters with his public comments - famously responding to hints of an imminent departure with his "Watch this space!" quip on Match of the Day - and when his big money move to Blackburn collapsed, he had to play out a full season under a cloud of disappointment.

He retained the captaincy and in fairness kept his place in the team on merit in that ill-fated Premiership campaign. But many supporters never forgave him and, when he finally got his big money move to Celtic the following close season, there were no fond farewells.

Arnar Gunnlaugsson got a rough ride in the lead up to his February 1999 transfer to Leicester but the mercurial Icelander always felt he had been portrayed in a bad light - again illustrating the importance of handling an awkward situation with the greatest of care.

More recently Michael Johansen could not have played it better. With the prospect of his Bolton contract expiring and being left high and dry, the dynamic little Dane signed a pre-contract agreement to join AB Copenhagen in January 2000. Memorably, after giving a full and frank explanation of his situation, he played out of his skin for the rest of that season.

Consequently he will be welcomed back any time, with open arms.