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David Wheater reckons Wanderers are now unrecognisable from the club which dropped into League One 12 months ago.
Last season’s player of the year sees no reason why the Whites should be regarded as relegation candidates despite most bookmakers lumping them alongside Burton Albion and Millwall in the rank outsiders pile.
After ridding the club of the negatives association with relegation, Phil Parkinson is hoping to consolidate in the Championship this time around.
And Wheater is looking on the bright side as Wanderers return to the second tier with some forward momentum.
“We think we’ve got a chance,” he told The Bolton News. “With the group we had last season and maybe adding one or two more quality players the gaffer won’t let us do anything else but aim high.
“He always made sure our heads were right, from day one. He didn’t let us get down when there were a few results against us. The place is so much calmer now than it was 12 months ago, it is a happier place to be. He has transformed the club.”
Wheater signed a new one-year deal earlier this month as Parkinson looked to retain the core of players who secured promotion.
Negotiations continue with Filipe Morais and Jay Spearing and the 30-year-old would be delighted to see the mainstay of the squad get another crack at the Championship.
“Keeping that core is important,” he said. “I’ve talked a lot about the team spirit here and the fact we all get on with each other and I think you can tell.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if there had been interest in some of the lads after the way we played. But if we can keep together a lot of the squad we can go into this season in the Championship with a lot of confidence.”
One memento from last season has fallen by the wayside, however, with Wheater’s glass player of the year trophy an unfortunate casualty of the celebrations.
“I dropped it,” he said. “I am getting a replacement, that’s going to cost me 40 quid, but it’s worth it.”
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Last season’s player of the year sees no reason why the Whites should be regarded as relegation candidates despite most bookmakers lumping them alongside Burton Albion and Millwall in the rank outsiders pile.
After ridding the club of the negatives association with relegation, Phil Parkinson is hoping to consolidate in the Championship this time around.
And Wheater is looking on the bright side as Wanderers return to the second tier with some forward momentum.
“We think we’ve got a chance,” he told The Bolton News. “With the group we had last season and maybe adding one or two more quality players the gaffer won’t let us do anything else but aim high.
“He always made sure our heads were right, from day one. He didn’t let us get down when there were a few results against us. The place is so much calmer now than it was 12 months ago, it is a happier place to be. He has transformed the club.”
Wheater signed a new one-year deal earlier this month as Parkinson looked to retain the core of players who secured promotion.
Negotiations continue with Filipe Morais and Jay Spearing and the 30-year-old would be delighted to see the mainstay of the squad get another crack at the Championship.
“Keeping that core is important,” he said. “I’ve talked a lot about the team spirit here and the fact we all get on with each other and I think you can tell.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if there had been interest in some of the lads after the way we played. But if we can keep together a lot of the squad we can go into this season in the Championship with a lot of confidence.”
One memento from last season has fallen by the wayside, however, with Wheater’s glass player of the year trophy an unfortunate casualty of the celebrations.
“I dropped it,” he said. “I am getting a replacement, that’s going to cost me 40 quid, but it’s worth it.”
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