HE can only select 11 players at a time, but Phil Parkinson has been delighted the Whites’ travelling army has started working in their favour as the run-in reaches fever pitch.

Earlier in the season Wanderers had struggled to deliver their best performances when being roared on by huge away followings.

But, ahead of taking on Oldham this afternoon, when more than 4,300 fans will be making the short trip to show their support, Parkinson says the players are now thriving in the ‘home-from-home’ atmosphere the Whites’ fanatics are creating.

He said: “As the season has gone on the supporters have galvanised really well behind the team, both home and away and the lads have been enjoying playing in front of the followings we’ve been taking.

“You look at Rochdale away, Bury away, then some of the brilliant performances we’ve put in recently like Fleetwood – it was more like a home game the way the lads responded.

“You can’t help but enjoy the fact more than 4,000 fans will be there at Oldham to support us. Every one of them knows what it means to the club to be up there and what’s at stake for us. The players certainly do too.”

Twelve months ago, even the most optimistic of Boltonians would not have anticipated the season that lay ahead.

Off the field Wanderers were in financial dire straits and had sold their Euxton training base to Wigan Athletic.

But things were just as depressing on it, as they fell through the Championship trap-door and into the third tier with barely any resistance. The relationship between players and fans was – to say the least – strained, and the future looked bleak.

Fast forward to their current position, however, and the transformation is startling.

Who would have imagined that the likes of Darren Pratley and Gary Madine – both the subject of much criticism last season – would once again have places in the hearts of fans?

And Parkinson, who should take much credit for the repairs carried out and the many bridges built, is desperate to reward the Whites’ backers, particularly those who have packed out away ends up and down the land but, until recently, had not been amply rewarded.

“I think it’s been block by block as things have gone along,” he said. “Players have rebuilt their reputation with the supporters and the supporters have appreciated the players more. It’s been about building the relationship back between the players and the fans.

“We got beat last Saturday at Scunthorpe but the supporters knew it had been a decent performance and they gave the lads a great ovation as they went off the pitch.

“It has evolved as it went along but I think they have enjoyed playing in front of these big away followings more.

“This is Bolton Wanderers. It’s a big club with a big support and we’ve used it to our advantage as the season has gone on.

“It’s great for them and this is what it’s all about. The majority of teams around the country have got something to play for as the season draw to a close and I’m so pleased that ours is a promotion challenge that we’re hoping to finish off.

“There is only one team in our division we would swap places with, Sheffield United, but we are in a terrific position and it’s up to us to capitalise on that now.”