DAVID Wheater has taken a pay cut to try and stay in Jimmy Phillips’ plans for the remainder of the season.

The Bolton News understands the big defender has passed up more than £10,000 in appearance fees due to him for the final four Championship games.

Wanderers have looked to make savings in the last couple of months, which have included the decision to side-line midfielder Jay Spearing because of a £100,000 bonus owed to his former club Liverpool.

Wheater is out of contract in the summer but the former Middlesbrough man – Wanderers’ second longest-serving professional – is desperate to bow out at the Macron in the right way.

The centre-half was fined in controversial circumstances earlier in the month when he and Liam Trotter were caught making a rude gesture to the club cameras, which were transmitting – unbeknown to the players –live on Twitter.

Wheater later apologised to supporters and has now followed it up with a generous offer to waive the remaining bonuses before his deal expires.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that former Republic of Ireland international turned TV pundit Andy Townsend has been hired by the club as a consultant and is playing a key role in recruitment at Wanderers.

The former Chelsea midfielder has acted on the club’s behalf for the last couple of months in helping to organise the new board of directors and sifting through potential managerial candidates.

Reports linked Townsend with a director of football role at Aston Villa earlier this month.

Co-owner Ken Anderson had hoped to reveal who would sit on the board last week but it is believed the delay has been caused by the individuals involved serving a longer notice period than expected at their current clubs.

The manager hunt continues and eagle-eyed supporters may have spotted two familiar faces in the directors’ box over the last two games.

Uwe Rosler, the former Brentford and Wigan Athletic manager, attended the Charlton game on Tuesday night while ex-Blackburn Rovers boss Gary Bowyer watched Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Middlesbrough.

After top choice Chris Wilder indicated he did not want to be considered for the job, Wanderers are examining all their options.

Pairing Peter Reid with a younger coach – potentially Kevin Nolan – remains one of the favoured options.