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Jimmy Phillips admits he faces a tough task getting fans and players to “believe” again at Wanderers.
Though the managerial position remains unclaimed at the Macron Stadium, Phillips has taken his interim appointment very seriously and is desperate to repair damage caused by last week’s defeat at Bristol City.
Relegation appears inevitable after a season of misery and the club faces a challenge convincing its supporters to back them in the same numbers they have this season.
Phillips feels duty bound to play his part – and with 15 first-team players still contracted to next season including Zach Clough, Josh Vela and Ben Amos, he also intends to work on their mentality over the course of the last eight games.
“We have to keep the fans with us,” he told The Bolton News. “I didn’t think there was a single positive to take from the Bristol City game other than the level of support they gave us all the way through. Clearly, we have to do better for them.
“But there is a good number of players within this squad who are contracted to next season and beyond that.
“The players need to be leaving the club in the summer with some renewed confidence that next season we can be challenging for promotion, whatever league we are in.”
Phillips resisted the temptation to offer the players extended leave over the international break and had them in for four days last week as normal.
Players are due to return to the training ground today to begin preparing for the Reading game.
What emphasis he should take with his selection remains a grey area – and with several first-team players out of contract in the summer, Phillips remains keen to speak with chief executive Dean Holdsworth about what direction he wants to take next season.
“I have concentrated solely on working with the players in the early part of the international break but between now and Saturday I’d like to think I can sit down with Dean and see what his plans are,” he said.
“I have got to get the balance right. We can’t bring players in at this time but it has been the case that we could let one or two go if we feel it is right.
“It is a bit of a juggling act. I still want to field as strong a team as is practically possible but if it is right to blood younger players I will do it.
“Right now, looking at the reaction of the players after the Bristol City game, I want to field the most experienced team possible when we play Reading.”
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Though the managerial position remains unclaimed at the Macron Stadium, Phillips has taken his interim appointment very seriously and is desperate to repair damage caused by last week’s defeat at Bristol City.
Relegation appears inevitable after a season of misery and the club faces a challenge convincing its supporters to back them in the same numbers they have this season.
Phillips feels duty bound to play his part – and with 15 first-team players still contracted to next season including Zach Clough, Josh Vela and Ben Amos, he also intends to work on their mentality over the course of the last eight games.
“We have to keep the fans with us,” he told The Bolton News. “I didn’t think there was a single positive to take from the Bristol City game other than the level of support they gave us all the way through. Clearly, we have to do better for them.
“But there is a good number of players within this squad who are contracted to next season and beyond that.
“The players need to be leaving the club in the summer with some renewed confidence that next season we can be challenging for promotion, whatever league we are in.”
Phillips resisted the temptation to offer the players extended leave over the international break and had them in for four days last week as normal.
Players are due to return to the training ground today to begin preparing for the Reading game.
What emphasis he should take with his selection remains a grey area – and with several first-team players out of contract in the summer, Phillips remains keen to speak with chief executive Dean Holdsworth about what direction he wants to take next season.
“I have concentrated solely on working with the players in the early part of the international break but between now and Saturday I’d like to think I can sit down with Dean and see what his plans are,” he said.
“I have got to get the balance right. We can’t bring players in at this time but it has been the case that we could let one or two go if we feel it is right.
“It is a bit of a juggling act. I still want to field as strong a team as is practically possible but if it is right to blood younger players I will do it.
“Right now, looking at the reaction of the players after the Bristol City game, I want to field the most experienced team possible when we play Reading.”
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