PHIL Parkinson walks into the Macron Stadium for his first full day at work today insisting he knows exactly what he is getting himself into.

The new Wanderers boss will meet with key staff to start rebuilding morale damaged by two relegations in four years and crippling financial problems over the last 12 months.

Players are due in for full pre-season training on June 27 and Parkinson will use the next two weeks to put in place recruitment plans and put the finishing touches to the club’s pre-season schedule.

His arrival has already perked up supporters who had waited more than three months for news of Neil Lennon’s permanent successor.

But though the former Bradford City chief concedes turning round the Whites’ fortunes will not be an easy task, he is confident he can avoid the same nasty surprises which blighted his predecessor’s stay.

“I understand what I am coming into, honestly, I am not walking around doe-eyed looking at the stadium and how great everything is, ignoring the nuts and bolts,” he told The Bolton News.

“I have had lots of challenges in my career and this is a big one.

“I spoke to a lot of people I know in football and I am not stupid, I do my homework on things. I left a really good club and I wouldn’t have come here unless I had looked into it in detail.

“When I went to Bradford it was a huge challenge and this job has many similarities. I am relishing the opportunity to really get stuck into the place and hopefully I can give these supporters just as many good times as I did the supporters at Bradford.”

Parkinson has already brought in three members of his backroom from Valley Parade in assistant Steve Parkin, sports science specialist Nick Allenby and goalkeeper coach Lee Butler.

It is expected he will be joined by chief scout Tim Breacker, who was away on holiday last week and unable to sign his contract.

Wanderers’ first pre-season outing is on July 2 at Atherton Colls, after which they are pencilled-in to fly to a training base in Malmo, Sweden.

Two games are planned against Danish sides HB Koge and FC Helsingor but both Ken Anderson and Dean Holdsworth will give the new manager the chance to sign off on the short tour.

“Ken has been very straight on things and said whatever I want to do, I can do,” Parkinson said. “I haven’t had chance to look at the location in real detail, other than the fact the base is in Sweden and we’re in Denmark.

“I need to look at the hotel. I had a brief chat with the club secretary (Simon Marland) about it but I definitely need to look at things in more depth.”