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Phil Parkinson has explained why he did not pursue a move for former Stoke City and West Brom striker Peter Odemwingie.
After finding out that the 35-year-old front man had signed for Championship strugglers Rotherham United, the Wanderers boss admitted he’d had reservations about offering him a permanent deal.
Free agent Odemwingie impressed on trial at Lostock and, conceded Parkinson, was looking in good condition to resume his career.
But with Max Clayton and Keshi Anderson pushing for a recall, the decision was taken before Tuesday night’s 2-0 win at Bury not to pursue the move.
“We’d had a look at Peter over a couple of days but I don’t really want to block the progress of our own players,” he told The Bolton News.
“We’ve got Max Clayton who’s looking so hungry in training, really determined to play, we’ve got Keshi Anderson who’s desperate to get out there as well.
“Chris Taylor has only just come back into the frame, James Henry is knocking on the door – we bring another one in and someone falls by the wayside. I think all those players, and particularly Max, deserve a shot.
“He’s worked so hard to get back, so to find someone who is ultimately coming to the end of his career blocking his progress would be tough.
“I didn’t know Peter had gone to Rotherham until the end of the game – I was going to look at him again over the next day or so – but they are down the bottom of the Championship, so it seems they have got something agreed.
“We’re happy with what we have got at the moment and I don’t want to unsettle it.”
Parkinson was able to name Lewis Buxton on the bench at Gigg Lane and is also hoping Tom Thorpe and Darren Pratley will be back this side of Christmas.
The manager reckons he cannot be frivolous in the transfer market, given the club is under an ongoing embargo.
“Every player we sign is another place – and we have to work to get that place.
“It isn’t as if we can sign whoever we want and if he doesn’t work out, we’ll get another one.
“Our selection process is a lot harder than normal, so we move on.”
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After finding out that the 35-year-old front man had signed for Championship strugglers Rotherham United, the Wanderers boss admitted he’d had reservations about offering him a permanent deal.
Free agent Odemwingie impressed on trial at Lostock and, conceded Parkinson, was looking in good condition to resume his career.
But with Max Clayton and Keshi Anderson pushing for a recall, the decision was taken before Tuesday night’s 2-0 win at Bury not to pursue the move.
“We’d had a look at Peter over a couple of days but I don’t really want to block the progress of our own players,” he told The Bolton News.
“We’ve got Max Clayton who’s looking so hungry in training, really determined to play, we’ve got Keshi Anderson who’s desperate to get out there as well.
“Chris Taylor has only just come back into the frame, James Henry is knocking on the door – we bring another one in and someone falls by the wayside. I think all those players, and particularly Max, deserve a shot.
“He’s worked so hard to get back, so to find someone who is ultimately coming to the end of his career blocking his progress would be tough.
“I didn’t know Peter had gone to Rotherham until the end of the game – I was going to look at him again over the next day or so – but they are down the bottom of the Championship, so it seems they have got something agreed.
“We’re happy with what we have got at the moment and I don’t want to unsettle it.”
Parkinson was able to name Lewis Buxton on the bench at Gigg Lane and is also hoping Tom Thorpe and Darren Pratley will be back this side of Christmas.
The manager reckons he cannot be frivolous in the transfer market, given the club is under an ongoing embargo.
“Every player we sign is another place – and we have to work to get that place.
“It isn’t as if we can sign whoever we want and if he doesn’t work out, we’ll get another one.
“Our selection process is a lot harder than normal, so we move on.”
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