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Phil Parkinson believes leaders have started to emerge in the Wanderers camp since last season’s spectacular fall from grace.
After relegation from the Championship back in May, accusatory fingers were pointed in the direction of senior players to claim more responsibility for the club’s shortcomings.
Parkinson’s arrival in the summer gave many of them a clean slate, however, and after picking up encouraging signs in pre-season the Whites boss feels some members of his squad are now starting to show maturity.
“I do feel there’s a bit of leadership in the group,” he told The Bolton News.
“In Sweden I felt like the lads had formed a bit of spirit through adversity.
“When you go round in this era there aren’t many leaders in football, managers moan about that all the time.
“But we have got that. Jay Spearing, for example, can affect players on the pitch. Those players are difficult to get.
“The senior players here are good professionals and when you detect that, you have a chance.”
Parkinson wanted to offer every player a second chance after switching from Bradford City in July but has also had his hand forced – the club’s transfer embargo meaning wholesale changes were harder to accomplish than first appeared.
Changing the mentality within the players who dropped down with one of the worst points hauls in the club’s history was a big challenge for the new boss – but one he feels was always achievable.
“When you look around the dressing room you want reliable people,” he said. “I came in with a very open mind, wanting to get to know the lads as individuals.
“We haven’t, as a club, won many games over the last 12 months. The players take ultimate responsibility for that even though there have been other factors at play.
“All the lads can do is deal with what’s in front of them and show the fans they are committed.”
Josh Vela is another player who has made significant progress under Parkinson’s guidance – prompting two unsuccessful bids from local rivals Wigan Athletic to prize him away.
The homegrown midfielder opened the scoring at Bristol Rovers with his third senior goal for the club and left his manager praising his attitude on the night.
“Josh was outstanding, a complete midfield performance,” Parkinson said.
“We’d been on at him to shoot more because he’s a great technician and he finished off a really good team goal.
“His energy was different class.”
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After relegation from the Championship back in May, accusatory fingers were pointed in the direction of senior players to claim more responsibility for the club’s shortcomings.
Parkinson’s arrival in the summer gave many of them a clean slate, however, and after picking up encouraging signs in pre-season the Whites boss feels some members of his squad are now starting to show maturity.
“I do feel there’s a bit of leadership in the group,” he told The Bolton News.
“In Sweden I felt like the lads had formed a bit of spirit through adversity.
“When you go round in this era there aren’t many leaders in football, managers moan about that all the time.
“But we have got that. Jay Spearing, for example, can affect players on the pitch. Those players are difficult to get.
“The senior players here are good professionals and when you detect that, you have a chance.”
Parkinson wanted to offer every player a second chance after switching from Bradford City in July but has also had his hand forced – the club’s transfer embargo meaning wholesale changes were harder to accomplish than first appeared.
Changing the mentality within the players who dropped down with one of the worst points hauls in the club’s history was a big challenge for the new boss – but one he feels was always achievable.
“When you look around the dressing room you want reliable people,” he said. “I came in with a very open mind, wanting to get to know the lads as individuals.
“We haven’t, as a club, won many games over the last 12 months. The players take ultimate responsibility for that even though there have been other factors at play.
“All the lads can do is deal with what’s in front of them and show the fans they are committed.”
Josh Vela is another player who has made significant progress under Parkinson’s guidance – prompting two unsuccessful bids from local rivals Wigan Athletic to prize him away.
The homegrown midfielder opened the scoring at Bristol Rovers with his third senior goal for the club and left his manager praising his attitude on the night.
“Josh was outstanding, a complete midfield performance,” Parkinson said.
“We’d been on at him to shoot more because he’s a great technician and he finished off a really good team goal.
“His energy was different class.”
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