GUDNI Bergsson is appealing for cool heads in the camp as Wanderers’ relegation fight comes to the boil.

The Whites legend fears for his former club, who have found themselves back in the bottom three since their 2-0 defeat at Newcastle United a week ago.

Owen Coyle’s side still have their fate in their own hands, having played two fewer games than most of their rivals, but Bergsson has warned the squad to ignore the league table completely in the build-up to this weekend’s crunch clash with Swansea City at the Reebok.

“It is important not to panic right now,” he said. “The players have to focus entirely on producing a good performance on Saturday, and if they manage that, the points will come.

“Each player must look at himself and nothing else this week. You have to be up for the battle because if there are even one or two players in the team that are not, they will not get the results they need. There are questions about tactics but right now it is more important that the team pulls together to get points.”

Bergsson has seen both sides of a Reebok relegation fight with Wanderers, having been part of Colin Todd’s desperately unlucky team in 1998 before helping Sam Allardyce’s side survive on the last day of the season on their return to the big time.

And he reckons the club’s experience at this end of the table could count in their favour over the coming weeks.

“We have been there before and we’ve been in a worse situation before,” he said. “I just hope the players are geared towards getting the right side of that dreaded dotted line.

“It is going to be so, so tight because the other teams are capable of picking up points as well.

“But for us it is a time to be strong. We have to draw on that experience now.”

Seven of the 18 named in Coyle’s squad at St James’ Park find themselves out of contract this summer and some have speculated that uncertainty over the players' futures has had an impact on performances over the course of the campaign.

Bergsson believes that with the right attitude, it could actually have a positive effect on results.

“The players are playing for their future and that should be their full motivation,” he said. “If they are not playing for the future of Bolton Wanderers then they should be looking to play for themselves and to get somewhere else.

“They are playing for their career and they know what is at stake.

“It doesn't have to be a negative thing.”

Bergsson found himself in the headlines last month after being stabbed twice in the leg whilst going to the aid of his colleague, Skúli Sigurz, who had been attacked at his law offices in Reykjavik.

Thankfully, the former defender's injuries were not serious and with his friend now off the critical list, the 46-year-old is hoping to put the matter behind him.

“It is a big relief that he is heading in the right direction,” said Bergsson. “It has been quite a tough time but, thank God, we are hoping to move on now.”