MATTY Alexander is upbeat about his chances of finding a new club this summer after his release at Wanderers.

The 20-year-old keeper – who famously kept out Coventry City as part of the youngest Bolton side in history – is on the lookout for his next challenge after being told his contract at the UniBol would not be renewed.

Ex-Newcastle United academy graduate Alexander made two senior appearances for the Whites and had experience on loan with Lancaster City and Runcorn Linnets during the course of last season.

Speaking to The Bolton News, the youngster said he leaves the Whites on good terms having been informed of his fate last month.

“It was Matt Gilks who told us, being the keeper coach and the club said it early on, which was good of them because they could have waited until after the season had finished so we could try and get a plan in place,” he said.

“It was just a case of ‘unfortunately, the way that the club is moving, you are not going to fit in our plans’ so, that’s just football.

“I honestly had a great time with Bolton. I enjoyed working there and I wish them well for the future.”

Alexander has moved back to the North-East as he searches for his next club and is feeling positive about the future after three years at Bolton.

Along with the much-publicised games at the start of the 2019/20 season against Coventry and Bradford City, the Newcastle-born stopper also provided back-up for Remi Matthews in League One for the rest of that season.

And he is convinced his Wanderers schooling will help him get fixed up quickly.

“I have been through the process before when I got released by Newcastle, it’s now a case of going again,” he said of his task this summer.

“I need another club right now but I feel confident in my own ability. I know I can still do it.

“I’d like to think that even with the Coventry game, I am a better keeper now than I was then, so I feel confident I will get fixed up.

“I’m not looking at any set level. I just need to be playing to get more experience so I can progress and push on.”

A knee injury cut short Alexander’s second loan this season at Northern Premier Runcorn but playing regular football at senior level has now given him the taste for more.

“Those loan spells were very important, just getting into the rhythm of games,” he said. “For the first six or seven weeks I was playing Saturday-Tuesday and that was crucial for me to get the experience of playing. Before that, it was just travelling and being on the bench.

“It was good just to get an experience of being out there twice a week on the pitch, it all counts for me.”

An extensive interview with Matt Alexander - including his memories of the Wycombe, Coventry and Bradford City games - will be available tomorrow morning for premium subscribers to The Bolton News, and also available in Friday's print edition of the newspaper.

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