CONNOR Hall insists he enjoyed his spell with Accrington Stanley but admits he may have been better off electing for a stint elsewhere.

The Bolton striker spent the first half of last season on loan at the Wham Stadium but started just one league game in his four months with John Coleman’s men.

When Hall was offered the chance to go out on loan there were several options in both League One and Two.

The youngster chose the higher level of football knowing game time would not be guaranteed, and so it proved as he made just 13 appearances in all competitions.

Despite being in and out of the reckoning plans were in place for the 21-year-old to extend his stay when it came to an end in January only for problems at Wanderers to mean he stayed put as cover for Phil Parkinson’s side.

Hall however didn’t feature in the second-half of the season as his parent club were relegated to League One, leaving him with plenty to ponder after a frustrating campaign.

“I did enjoy it,” said the frontman, who also made four EFL Trophy starts for Stanley.

“Playing at Accrington was a good experience but I wish I’d played more football.

“I was coming on for the last 20 minutes in most games and not always getting into it.

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“Boxing Day was my first start but through the whole time I was there, I felt like I’d been a little bit unlucky.

“I scored against Sunderland and then the game was called off and I had two or three ruled out for offside.

“It was a great atmosphere there, the manager, the assistant manager and the boys really made me feel welcome, but looking back I wonder whether it would have been more sensible to go and play in League Two where I would have got more time on the pitch.”

Before signing for Stanley, Hall appeared for Bolton in their 2-1 League Cup defeat at Leeds, his only Wanderers game last season.

That meant that having returned from his loan spell in East Lancashire he was not allowed to sign for any other club because EFL rules say you cannot play for three clubs in a single season.

A Stanley return was on the cards but the high-profile collapse of Christian Doidge’s Whites move from Forest Green Rovers, and the club’s failure to grab Ched Evans on loan from Sheffield United, meant Parkinson kept hold of his young striker.

“I remember speaking to (Bolton team mate) Mark Little about it before I went, and he said that if I went into League One and got the opportunity it would be a better chance to test myself,” Hall said.

“The problem I had was that I’d played for Bolton against Leeds and the rules say you can’t play for three sides in one season. That killed me a little bit.

“I did want to go back to Accrington but because of the situation with Christian Doidge it was a bit difficult.

“The gaffer was trying to get some cover but never managed to get anyone in.

“The upside for me now is that having played in League One last season for Accrington I know I can handle it. I can cope in this league.”

A frustrating few months followed as Hall didn’t make a competitive appearance as Wanderers slid towards League One in the midst of an ever-worsening financial crisis.

That was something he admits had a real impact at this early stage of his career.

“I was hoping I’d get a chance,” he said.

“There was only Josh (Magennis) and Clayts (Clayton Donaldson) ahead of me and when Josh got injured I got on the bench.

“But being honest when I got back in January I wasn’t match-sharp.

“I was lacking in a bit of fitness because I hadn’t played much at Accrington.

“I felt I was doing well in training but I was getting frustrated that one day I’d be with the first team, then the next back with the 23s.

“I lost a bit of motivation, I think.

“And on top of that, not getting paid has a massive impact.

“None of us are going to use that as an excuse but it definitely doesn’t help.

“Younger lads like myself haven’t saved up as much money as you might if you were one of the older players, so it has been tough. But I got into training every day.

“I think if I’d have been playing at the time I wouldn’t have felt it quite as badly.

“Things just weren’t going for me. But hopefully this season, with new owners, it will be better. A little bit more stable.”

With new ownership on the horizon and a fresh start for the club, Hall hopes youth will be given a chance at the University of Bolton Stadium with Wanderers starting the League One campaign on at least minus 12 points, a situation that could become worse as they await punishment for not playing their game against Brentford due to a player strike.

“With us starting on minus points there is maybe less of an attraction for the club this season and that might mean they rely that bit more on youth,” he said.

“If that’s the case, they’ll find we’ll be giving 100 per cent.

“They love the club and they want to do their best for it.

“I know the club will need to sign players but if they go with a younger squad then we’re ready.”