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Phil Parkinson knows he may have to plan for promotion from League One in the New Year with Wanderers still in an embargo.
The winter transfer window opens in 37 days but recent boardroom complications leave the manager uncertain what, if anything, he will be able to invest in new players.
It has emerged that Ken Anderson is looking to buy Dean Holdsworth’s 50 per cent stake in the club in a move the chairman feels is vital to prevent financial problems resurfacing at the Macron Stadium.
The Football League placed restrictions on Wanderers’ transfer activity 12 months ago but Anderson has negotiated the arrival of more than a dozen first team players since the summer.
And while he is unwilling to wade into the politics going on above him, Parkinson is pressing ahead with his recruitment plans, liaising with chief scout Tim Breacker and Lee Anderson, who has also been heavily involved in incoming deals over the last five months.
“In all honesty, I have left that side of things to the powers that be – I have got enough on my plate,” he told The Bolton News. “However, me and the rest of the staff are working on both scenarios, which is important.
“There are players we are looking at who we know we’d only be able to bring in if there was a blank canvass and the embargo was lifted.
“If it becomes a case that we will be restricted on numbers, as we are currently, then we need to make sure there is enough versatility in the squad.
“We have just got to make sure that whatever the situation in January, we are covered in all bases to the end of the season.”
Parkinson insists there has been no indication that he will have to sell players in January to create funds – pointing to Anderson’s reluctance to sell Josh Vela to Wigan Athletic earlier in the season.
“We had two bids for Josh, which had gone up considerably, and I’m sure a third would have gone even higher. But the chairman and myself didn’t want to do it and Josh was happy to stay,” he said. “We are in a strong position at the moment and I’d hope we are still in a strong position going into January.
“Other teams will definitely improve. You have always got to be fearful of the teams who are on the fringes of it at the moment.
“If you stand still, people will go past you.
“Teams like Charlton and MK Dons, at the start of the season you’d have expected them to be right up there in the top six.
“Charlton spent £1.1million on two strikers, MK have got a wealth of talent, and teams like Peterborough will come out of the pack.
“We have to make sure our own house is in order.”
Source
The winter transfer window opens in 37 days but recent boardroom complications leave the manager uncertain what, if anything, he will be able to invest in new players.
It has emerged that Ken Anderson is looking to buy Dean Holdsworth’s 50 per cent stake in the club in a move the chairman feels is vital to prevent financial problems resurfacing at the Macron Stadium.
The Football League placed restrictions on Wanderers’ transfer activity 12 months ago but Anderson has negotiated the arrival of more than a dozen first team players since the summer.
And while he is unwilling to wade into the politics going on above him, Parkinson is pressing ahead with his recruitment plans, liaising with chief scout Tim Breacker and Lee Anderson, who has also been heavily involved in incoming deals over the last five months.
“In all honesty, I have left that side of things to the powers that be – I have got enough on my plate,” he told The Bolton News. “However, me and the rest of the staff are working on both scenarios, which is important.
“There are players we are looking at who we know we’d only be able to bring in if there was a blank canvass and the embargo was lifted.
“If it becomes a case that we will be restricted on numbers, as we are currently, then we need to make sure there is enough versatility in the squad.
“We have just got to make sure that whatever the situation in January, we are covered in all bases to the end of the season.”
Parkinson insists there has been no indication that he will have to sell players in January to create funds – pointing to Anderson’s reluctance to sell Josh Vela to Wigan Athletic earlier in the season.
“We had two bids for Josh, which had gone up considerably, and I’m sure a third would have gone even higher. But the chairman and myself didn’t want to do it and Josh was happy to stay,” he said. “We are in a strong position at the moment and I’d hope we are still in a strong position going into January.
“Other teams will definitely improve. You have always got to be fearful of the teams who are on the fringes of it at the moment.
“If you stand still, people will go past you.
“Teams like Charlton and MK Dons, at the start of the season you’d have expected them to be right up there in the top six.
“Charlton spent £1.1million on two strikers, MK have got a wealth of talent, and teams like Peterborough will come out of the pack.
“We have to make sure our own house is in order.”
Source