GARY Megson insisted his controversial UEFA Cup selection policy probably helped keep Wanderers in the Premiership.
The Bolton boss knows it still rankles with many fans that he played a "second string" side in the decisive away leg of the Round of 16 tie against Sporting Lisbon in March.
But he reckons that, had Wanderers gone any further in the competition, it could have impacted disastrously on the battle for survival.
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"The focus was always on staying in the Premiership," he said. "I'm not sure whether we would be sat here now, discussing the things we are discussing (a future in the Premiership) if we had got through and beaten Sporting Lisbon because the squad was never strong enough to be able to compete."
Meanwhile, Wanderers have delayed announcements on the decisions on the futures of their five out-of-contract senior players but they are expected to open talks with Jussi Jaaskelainen and Ricardo Gardner this week. Ivan Campo, Stelios and Andranik are expected to be released.
Loan players Grzegorz Rasiak (Southampton), Mikel Alonso (Real Sociedad) and Danny Guthrie (Liverpool) have returned to their parent clubs but Wanderers could hold talks in the summer with a view to signing Guthrie on a permanent basis.
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