PHIL Parkinson hopes to sort out his new contract at Wanderers before tomorrow’s season opener against Leeds United.

The Wanderers boss confirmed he and his backroom staff are close to extending their existing deal at the Macron, which runs out at the end of the season.

“We are close to getting it done,” he told The Bolton News. “Possibly in the next day or so.

“We have enjoyed our first year at Bolton and got a great working relationship with the chairman and the rest of the board. We want to continue it.

“It’s a tough challenge ahead but the club is in a far stronger position than it was a year ago. We are really excited about keeping the club progressing in the right direction.”

Parkinson has had to work under a transfer embargo since day one at Wanderers but is still pleased with the 11 players he has been able to add on free transfers and loans this summer.

“The key to it is that we’ve known where we stood,” he said. “When you look at the division, even if we were out of embargo would we have been able to compete with Middlesbrough? No.

“We knew what we could and couldn’t do and tried to do the best with the hand we’ve been dealt. Whether it is good enough, we’ll only see when things get going.

“It’s hard to say what our target is. I just want to make sure any team I put out there continues to do what I set out to do - and that’s wear the shirt with some pride.”

The manager remains optimistic, however, that an end to the embargo days are in sight. Wanderers have not paid a transfer fee since 2015 but progress has been made with the filing of accounts and a business plan to the EFL.

“It’s more of a question for the chairman but when I have spoken to him and people at the Football League they are a lot happier with where the club is now than in the past,” he said. “There is progress being made.

Wanderers will have to do without Sammy Ameobi at the Macron after the winger picked up a knee injury in training. New Everton loan signing Antonee Robinson will be included in the squad.