FEW arguments polarised opinion among Wanderers supporters quite like Elias Kachunga’s involvement in Ian Evatt’s team.

On one hand, an experienced player whose tactical know-how was as good as anyone in the dressing room, and whose work-rate rarely disappointed in an attack asked to defend out of possession as rigorously as the back three.

On the other, someone whose goal record across two seasons was lower than one every 11 games, and whose goal-and-assist per 90 minutes rate dropped below that of Ricardo Santos this season.

Looking purely at the numbers, it is little wonder that Evatt has decided to thank Kachunga for his efforts and move on. Dion Charles aside, the rest of his squad had not scored enough this season, a problem magnified in the play-off semi-final defeat to Barnsley.

The case in support of Kachunga was never a statistical one – at least not for the casual observer. Deep in the analysis of Bolton’s performances this season there will almost certainly be a metric that supports what he did above others, but to the man in the stand, you either ‘got’ what he added to the cause, or you simply did not, and there were many in the latter camp.

And for a player in the 14th year of his professional career, the experience was a new one.

Speaking to The Bolton News he said: “I don’t think it’s always been like that in my career,” he said. “When I played week in, week out I could help the team.

“At Huddersfield, I didn’t score every game but the people loved me there because I gave the team something. I worked hard for the team wherever I played.

“That is what I try to do whenever I step on the pitch. Sometimes you have good games and sometimes you don’t. I always want to play.”

Kachunga has experienced hardship off the field, too.

Soon after signing for Bolton he was hit with some sickening racial abuse on his Instagram account following a goalless draw against Burton Albion.

That incident hit at a time when English football authorities were calling for more accountability from social media platforms, and Kachunga’s case even prompted a statement from EFL chairman, Rick Parry.

Sadly for the experienced striker, it was not the last time he had to contend with needless and aggressive abuse.

In January Dion Charles was wrongly sent off by referee Tom Nield during a 1-0 win against Forest Green for lashing out at defender Brandon Cooper. Kachunga had owned up to the offence on the pitch – but the backlash from many people, particularly online, was severe.

Booed down the tunnel at half time, the decision to substitute him on the night was also cheered by large numbers. Though Kachunga issued an immediate apology, and immediately had the three-match ban transferred to his own name by the Football Association, Evatt came out quickly in support – revealing the player had also experienced some difficulty in his private life.

“He is really sorry for his actions, it is very much out of character for him and he knows that he let everybody down,” he said.

“But the second part to it – and one I think we need to speak about – is that footballers are human beings and when they step out on the grass you don’t know what is going on in their personal lives. Sometimes even I don’t know what is going on because they will keep things from you.

“Kacha has had a bit of upset in his personal family life that he shared with me post-Tuesday but the tirade of abuse he has received online, the vile diatribe, is just disgusting, to be honest.

“It has really upset him. And this day and age, with mental health, we need to think about what we are doing.”

Kachunga certainly found some redemption. A month after the Forest Green fury he lit up the Papa Johns Trophy semi-final with the opening goal eight minutes from full-time, sparking some memorable scenes in the away end.

And then by April he settled any remaining nerves with the third goal of the day against Plymouth Argyle at Wembley as the Whites lifted their first cup silverware since 1989.

The lack of game-time thereafter became a frustration for Kachunga, and potentially a portent for the decision to come. He started a sterile play-off first leg against Barnsley and then came off the bench at Oakwell, failing to make a dent in the home defence.

A classy farewell message posted on social media on Tuesday morning thanked those who had supported him in the good times, and the bad.

Kachunga may not be remembered for his goal exploits at Bolton but those who got to know him this last couple of years would have expected nothing less.