KEVIN Davies believes Wanderers have got the mainstay of a squad who can prosper in the Championship this time around.

Impressed by the job done by Phil Parkinson and his staff this season, the Whites legend is now looking forward to seeing how far promotion momentum can carry his former club.

But the former England international does not believe wholesale changes will necessarily be needed to avoid the struggles encountered in the last Championship campaign.

“This is the start of a rebuilding process,” he told The Bolton News. “There is a lot of hard work to do on contracts and making sure the financial side of things is right going into next season.

“But there are quality players in that squad. How much they were affected by what went on last year, nearly going into administration, not getting paid – I can imagine it was quite a bit.

“So, if they can keep things nice and stable there are players like Jay Spearing and David Wheater who will definitely go and do a job for you in the Championship.

“Phil has brought in a good bit of experience, added a bit of quality up front with players like Le Fondre and a bit out wide too.

“But he’s also kept faith with players who were here before and maybe had a point to prove. It will be the same next season. They have played in that division before. If he can bring in a few new signings to freshen things up, I think they will be okay.”

Davies has picked up on a happier vibe around the town in the past few months – one he recognises from the good old days of his own Bolton playing career.

“It’s nice to see people smiling again,” he said. “Back in Big Sam’s day there was a buzz around the town, especially on a matchday but that had gone missing for whatever reason.

“You talk to people about why it slipped away, and they’ll say some bad decisions were made by the people in charge, maybe fans weren’t quite identifying with the players quite as much as they used to do, but judging by the games I have seen Bolton play this season that side of things seem to be coming back, and it’s good to see.

“There’s a great feeling around the place and the fans have been through thick and thin with this club, so they deserve a good year in the Championship.”

Wanderers went into the season as one of the promotion favourites and have carried with them the league’s biggest playing budget.

But Davies, who called time on his own playing career after helping Preston North End into the second tier through the play-offs, said Parkinson’s achievements should not be underestimated, particularly given promotion was earned under a transfer embargo and at the first time of asking.

“It’s a massive thing Phil has done because getting out of League One can be really difficult,” he said. “It’s even more so when you look at the embargo, and all the things which have gone on behind the scenes.

“Some really big clubs can end up trapped in League One. You look at Sheffield United, it has taken them a long time to get it right, Leeds United struggled, and I can remember well from playing at Preston that it doesn’t matter about your reputation – this can be a horrible league to play in.

“It isn’t pretty and maybe there have been a few games you have to scrape your way through. I’ve seen a couple that haven’t been great to watch but Bolton have adapted. Phil has done terrifically well.

“It has been efficient, it has got the job done. Phil got to know how players quickly and brought people in he knew could get the club towards the top end of the league.

“After that it comes down to nerve, and they came through.”