JAY Spearing says he never entertained the thought of leaving Wanderers in the transfer window.

Although Whites chairman Ken Anderson made it abundantly clear that offers would be rejected for the midfielder last month – Blackburn Rovers, Brighton and Cardiff City were among the Championship clubs who asked about loaning him until the end of the season.

Spearing – who is wearing the captain’s armband in Darren Pratley’s absence – insists the speculation did not concern him.

“Whatever I’m linked with or wherever I am in my career I’ve put 100 per cent into it,” he told The Bolton News.

“Bolton have done a lot for me in this last couple of years, the club, the fans, everyone, so whatever speculation there was out there doesn’t concern me.

"I get paid by Bolton and that is where my priorities lie. I concentrate on football and want to do the best I can for my career.”

Spearing was as frustrated as anyone that Wanderers did not emerge from Saturday’s clash with Southend United with three points.

Referee Seb Stocksbridge drew criticism from both managers as tempers threatened to boil over at various stages of the game but the former Liverpool man was happy with the way his side maintained focus.

“We want consistency,” he said. “But the referee’s performance can’t control us, we didn’t let it, and that is down to the gaffer to deal with him.

“Sometimes it’s like a wrestling match but that’s when the referee lets it get that way.

“We’re now not allowed to speak with him so all we can do is get on with our jobs.”

Southend sat back after taking a third-minute lead, their only shot on target in the entire game.

Wanderers missed a host of chances and Spearing himself saw a free-kick tipped over the crossbar in the second half by young Shrimpers keeper Ted Smith.

“We didn’t let the fact they were sitting back affect us – if they were going to sit there and defend we said ‘right, we’re coming for you’ and we made them defend,” he said.

“They sat there for every minute of the game camped outside their own goal and I can’t understand how they came away with a point.

“I literally don’t know how we didn’t win that game.

“They started lively and we were fuming with the sloppy goal we let in but it didn’t knock us and after they scored we controlled every single aspect of

the game. Mark Howard had nothing to do.

“It’s frustration we didn’t come out with three points but we’re still there, we’re still battling hard and we’re playing some great stuff.

“One of these days we’ll thump a team like that.”

Spearing was delighted to see Wanderers strengthen their hand with the signing of five new players on transfer deadline day.

“The players they have brought in are fantastic, they really make a difference,” he said. “We didn’t know what was going on behind closed doors but then all of a sudden they were there.

“People are fighting for places now and I think this could be a good season.

“There’s a lot of confidence in the group at the moment and we think the players we have got in the squad are capable of pushing on.

“I can’t praise them enough for how we have started.

“It’s a fantastic view from the top of the league. Everyone wants this to continue and nobody here wants to play in League One longer than we absolutely have to.

“We’re fighting to win it now. It’s a frigging long way to go, but we’re up for the challenge and we’ve got the players to cope now.

“Players like (James) Henry and Sammy Ameobi are top drawer. They will put pressure on the lads who were here already and get the best out of us.”