WEARING the captain’s armband at Wanderers has been an honour for Antoni Sarcevic – but the heavy responsibility has not been without its downside.

A season which ended with tears of joy rolling down his face at Crawley as Bolton secured promotion had begun with a mood of frustration.

When Sarcevic and Eoin Doyle were signed as the crown jewels of a 20-man summer haul, much was expected. But as time soon revealed, the mis-match in quality among the new recruits left the captain and the star striker open to criticism.

Social media became a battleground in those early months as fans who were locked out from watching their own club looked to vent their anger.

It had a happy ending, of course, and as Sarcevic drank in the celebrations over the last week he has been able to reflect on his changing relationship with the supporters and the club ne now leads into League One.

“When I think back at the stick I got, it was all just frustration, mine, the fans, everyone,” he told The Bolton News. “I felt like a bit of a scapegoat at the time.

“As a player and a person, first and foremost, I made sure I put everything out on the pitch and when I saw those reactions from supporters it was hurting me massively.

“I’m lucky I have got an unbelievable missus and family who told me ‘you’re a good player, things just aren’t happening’.

“I was doing by utmost on the pitch but looking back now I was probably trying too hard, playing in positions that didn’t suit my style. But all I could do was to try and get results and it wasn’t happening.

“I was getting reactions that were probably deserved but on a personal note they hurt me, so when we’d got that result and I’m speaking to you guys, I was in tears on the phone to my mum and dad. It was just a massive sense of relief.

“I knew signing for this club that this is what we were going to do. I just hope next year we don’t give the league a 20-game head start.

“I’m just so happy I have finished on a high. I wish it had started like that but at least the Bolton fans and the club know they have a captain that cares and I am more than positive that I can play a part in getting this club back up to where it belongs.”

Frustration on Sarcevic’s behalf was clear from his words in the first part of the season. After securing a point with a late goal at Barrow in October he refused to wallow in celebration, instead pointing out to his team-mates that the performance had not been up to standard.

By January the mood and form had dipped again among the fanbase, leading Sarcevic to drop a few more truth bombs about the standard of recruitment – words aimed very much in the direction of departed head of football operations, Tobias Phoenix.

“I don’t want to drag up too many names and details because we’re sat here promoted but it’s fair to say that from the word go up to January it wasn’t good enough, collectively,” Sarcevic recalled. “There was unhappiness, the frustration was there for all to see.

“Speaking for myself, I’d signed to get out of the league, which I’d done the previous year with Plymouth and from where I was stood that wasn’t going to happen unless changes were made.

“When that happened the results, the performances, everything that goes with it, speaks for itself.

“The lads who came in haven’t just brought in quality on the pitch but they built a real togetherness in the group and it got us over the line.”

January additions not only added extra quality on the pitch but also triggered a wave of optimism through the dressing room that the season could still be salvaged.

Sarcevic made his intentions clear on arrival in the summer that he wanted Bolton to be leading from the front; suddenly, they looked capable.

“I was 28 when Bolton came knocking in the summer and from there on in no other club played a part,” he said. “When I knew this club wanted me I wanted to see where I could sign on the dotted line. I wanted to become a part of Bolton Wanderers’ history.

“I just got a sense from some of the other lads. I just felt maybe the badge on the shirt was playing more of a part.

“You see with these lads now, the ones who came in, that it’s more than that. You are representing a whole town of people when you go out there trying to get a result.

“It could have taken time to settle – but you look at the quality of the players who came in and as someone who was here, that lifted you automatically. I think it needed to happen but you saw quickly that they made an impact.

“The 3-2 at Mansfield was down to experience and quality on the pitch. As that carried on, the training session, the togetherness, the tactical stuff came more naturally to everyone and we started to dominate the league, we took it by storm.

“If I don’t kick another ball for Bolton Wanderers I have been a captain of this club and helped them get promoted. You don’t understand what that means to me and my family.

“But for me, personally, it’s only the start. When we were out celebrating with the lads we’d be talking about wanting more of this, with fans back next year, show them in that stadium that we can all celebrate together.

“You cannot take League One lightly, there are some big clubs in there, but we’re another massive one. It’ll be competitive but we can carry this on.”

Sarcevic points out that while others were unconvinced that Bolton were going to be challenging for a top three spot while they languished in the lower reaches of the table until February, his manager Ian Evatt remained convinced they could reach their goal.

“I messaged the gaffer personally on Sunday morning to say thanks,” he said. “He took a lot of stick as well at the start of the year but he was the main one who believed, he was the one coming into training and telling us that he thought we were the best team in the league.

“Management-wise, getting hold of the lads and dealing with them, his quality is there for all to see. I can’t speak highly enough of him and he deserved it more than anyone. I think he’ll have an unbelievable managerial career. His main priority is his team.”

The prospect of playing in front of supporters next season is another one that fills Sarcevic with excitement.

An entire season played in front of empty terraces has brought different challenges – but with just over 4,000 season tickets already renewed for next season and not yet on open sale, fans will undoubtedly play their part in the League One effort.

“The only time I have played there with fans is with Plymouth in the FA Cup,” the captain said.

“As an away player it is different and obviously I didn’t feel much from the Bolton fans.

“It wasn’t packed but I’d love to step out there as a Bolton player, a captain, and looking at how season tickets are going there are going to be plenty in.

“With the feelgood factor around the place I think everyone is excited.”