PHIL Parkinson reckons Wanderers face a definitive week – at the negotiation table and in the transfer market.

Speaking for the first time about the player pay dispute which has threatened to wreck the Whites’ Championship campaign before it even got started, Parkinson is confident talks between Ken Anderson, the players, and the PFA this week can lead to a resolution.

And furthermore, the Bolton boss is desperate to start putting some meat on the bones of a threadbare squad, starting with a proven striker to lead his attack.

Wanderers’ players featured for the first time in public on Saturday at Halifax, a week after they had gone on strike to protest against unpaid bonuses and wages, forcing the cancellation of a friendly against Scottish club St Mirren.

“I didn’t expect the attitude of the lads to be anything other than excellent,” Parkinson told The Bolton News. “We need this to be a good week. The dispute we’ve had has got to be put to bed.

“It was something that could easily have been avoided, and can be easily rectified.

“This week I know Ken is keen to work with the players, myself and the PFA to get this resolved.

“I think it’s a smaller matter than people think but because it happens in pre-season it will always be amplified. But it’s something that can be sorted. We need to make sure we get positive messages out this week because the lads have been terrific in training and we want to move on as quickly as possible.”

On the playing front, Parkinson forecasts that Wanderers need seven more players before the summer window closes on August 9.

Bradford City’s Charlie Wyke is understood to be high on Bolton’s shortlist but there is strong competition from Sunderland and Peterborough United for his signature, and a price tag of up to £1million.

“Everybody knows we’re a long, long way short of having a squad capable of competing at Championship level,” Parkinson said.

“It’s difficult. Ken is looking at one or two striker options but we need those players in. We need to be strong in all departments.

“We’ve got other areas we need to strengthen but the striker area is a key one. We need strength in depth.”