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Phil Parkinson says retaining the services of defender Dorian Dervite this season is not a gamble.
Wanderers granted the French centre-back a new one-year deal this summer after he finished strongly in the League One promotion campaign.
Dervite was out of the reckoning for nearly a year and given the option to leave last November – but got back into the manager’s good books to play an important part from February onward.
The decision to keep him on brought about a mixed reaction from Whites fans but Dervite has now vowed to win over his doubters as he returns to the Championship and Parkinson insists the 28-year-old should be given a clean slate.
“What happened before, I can’t really comment on,” he told The Bolton News. “But he has played in the Championship before and as I have said before, we need strength in depth in our squad.
“Dorian had a great second half of last season and we know his game. There is no gambling element, as there might have been if we had brought in someone else in the same sort of bracket.
“It is obviously a big year for him to back up what he did last season.”
Parkinson is also looking to sign West Ham centre-back Reece Burke on loan, who could prove to be a direct rival to Dervite for a place alongside last season’s star defensive pairing, David Wheater and Mark Beevers.
The Wanderers boss has been impressed with Dervite’s attitude since deciding to stay and fight for his position at the end of last year.
“Even when he wasn’t in the team I was pleased Dorian had a professional attitude,” he said.
“He really worked hard in the gym and in training at the end of last year and I think he reaped the benefits of it.
“He is still a good age and after speaking to him I think he’s determined to make his mark in the squad from the start of the season.”
Meanwhile, Wanderers have been wished luck by one of their former strikers now plying his trade down the road at Gigg Lane.
Jermaine Beckford signed for Bury earlier in the summer and has fond memories of his two years with the Whites.
“My time at Bolton had its ups and downs,” he said. “It was mostly ups but it was another great club and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there.
“It would be great to see them back in the Premier League as the fans deserve it because they have been through a bit of a tough time.
“There are still some great lads there from my time, some really funny ones too, so I wish them all the best this year.
“Of course I’ll be keeping an eye on the Leeds game for various reasons.
“I keep track of all my previous clubs as it is something that will always be part of me.”
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Wanderers granted the French centre-back a new one-year deal this summer after he finished strongly in the League One promotion campaign.
Dervite was out of the reckoning for nearly a year and given the option to leave last November – but got back into the manager’s good books to play an important part from February onward.
The decision to keep him on brought about a mixed reaction from Whites fans but Dervite has now vowed to win over his doubters as he returns to the Championship and Parkinson insists the 28-year-old should be given a clean slate.
“What happened before, I can’t really comment on,” he told The Bolton News. “But he has played in the Championship before and as I have said before, we need strength in depth in our squad.
“Dorian had a great second half of last season and we know his game. There is no gambling element, as there might have been if we had brought in someone else in the same sort of bracket.
“It is obviously a big year for him to back up what he did last season.”
Parkinson is also looking to sign West Ham centre-back Reece Burke on loan, who could prove to be a direct rival to Dervite for a place alongside last season’s star defensive pairing, David Wheater and Mark Beevers.
The Wanderers boss has been impressed with Dervite’s attitude since deciding to stay and fight for his position at the end of last year.
“Even when he wasn’t in the team I was pleased Dorian had a professional attitude,” he said.
“He really worked hard in the gym and in training at the end of last year and I think he reaped the benefits of it.
“He is still a good age and after speaking to him I think he’s determined to make his mark in the squad from the start of the season.”
Meanwhile, Wanderers have been wished luck by one of their former strikers now plying his trade down the road at Gigg Lane.
Jermaine Beckford signed for Bury earlier in the summer and has fond memories of his two years with the Whites.
“My time at Bolton had its ups and downs,” he said. “It was mostly ups but it was another great club and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there.
“It would be great to see them back in the Premier League as the fans deserve it because they have been through a bit of a tough time.
“There are still some great lads there from my time, some really funny ones too, so I wish them all the best this year.
“Of course I’ll be keeping an eye on the Leeds game for various reasons.
“I keep track of all my previous clubs as it is something that will always be part of me.”
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