PHIL Parkinson has told Wanderers to take maximum advantage of a short breather after Saturday’s game at Southend United was frozen off.

The match was postponed at 11am after overnight efforts to keep the frost off the pitch failed, leaving hundreds of Bolton fans stranded down south.

Around 1,000 people had been expected to make the 500-mile round trip but Parkinson admitted referee Charles Breakspear had little choice but to call the game.

“We had readied the lads, gone down there early, done everything right – I felt our preparation was spot on,” he told The Bolton News.

“We wanted the game to go ahead but Phil Brown, myself and Steve Parkin were stood out on the pitch for some time and we could understand the referee’s position.

“I feel for the supporters who travelled. But at that point I am not that sure what difference a couple of hours would have made to the frozen areas.

“I felt it was the correct decision at the time.”

Wanderers had been in midweek cup action against Crystal Palace and faced a quick turnaround after returning from Selhurst Park, only to travel back down south 48 hours later.

Parkinson gave most of his players a short break before starting preparations for Charlton Athletic’s visit to the Macron on Saturday.

But he warned the squad that this could be their last opportunity to put their feet up with a 20-game run between now and the end of the season to come.

“Looking at it from a positive view it had been a very busy week, with the Palace game and all, and the fact we didn’t play Saturday does give the players a little bit of time to recharge the batteries,” he said.

“We had lunch down there and I said to the players afterwards that we have got to get ourselves completely prepared now, take this little break and come back ready for a hard slog ahead.

“There are no distractions now, no cup competitions, no breaks, we have to get ourselves ready to push on now for the rest of the season.”

Meanwhile, wage delays have once again surfaced at Wanderers with some staff salaries hitting accounts more than 48 hours after they were due.

The transaction was due on Friday but administration and management employees were told money would not be accessible until after the weekend.

Employees have also been warned their February pay date has been moved to the last day of the month – meaning a six-week wait for their next pay cheque.

The move has been made to streamline the number of transactions, and associated fees, but some employees have reported difficulties re-organising standing orders and direct debits.

Ken Anderson confirmed in a statement this morning: "The change of date was so that everyone was paid at the end of the month rather than the middle and having to do two salary runs.

"Also, it is normal for salaries to be paid at the end of the month.

"We have offered to help anyone if it causes them financial problems."

Meanwhile, a report in The Sun yesterday claimed Wanderers could be ready to sell the Macron Stadium and the hotel for £15million to a British-based group.

Ken Anderson described the story as “absolute rubbish” when contacted by The Bolton News.