JIMMY Phillips hopes Wanderers’ ownership will soon shed some light on their plans for the manager’s job.

The Whites are on course to finish with worst league record in the club’s history with tomorrow’s trip to Cardiff City the first of three remaining games.

Interim boss Phillips does not want that blemish on his CV but after picking up his first point in a dull goalless draw against Charlton on Tuesday night he believes news on who will guide the club into League One next season could generate some optimism.

“There is always hope,” he told The Bolton News. “I think from here on in it will centre around if they (the owners) can appoint a new manager – that would give fresh impetus to the players.

“Maybe that would change how they go about the last three games.

“I am bitterly disappointed with how things went against Charlton but I still believe there is hope for the future.”

There are no signs co-owners Ken Anderson and Dean Holdsworth have agreed on the identity of the next manager but the pair did meet on Wednesday to discuss their next move.

Statistically, Wanderers still have work to do if they are to avoid having the worst points-to-game ratio in the club’s history. That dubious honour is currently shared between the 1970-71 and 1979-80 campaigns, depending on whether the average is taken with two or three points for a win.

“I am desperate to avoid that particular statistic but the problems have piled up over the course of the whole season, not just the last month,” Phillips said. “It has been a season of complete turmoil, off the pitch and on it.

“Now that it has steadied off the field we are looking to steady it on the pitch.

“I have served Bolton Wanderers for 27 years and it is my club. There have been worse times. I remember being at the bottom of the old Third Division, for example.

“But what has happened this season is not something that we want to continue, that’s for sure.”

Phillips could bring Gary Madine back against Cardiff after a five-game absence with a hip injury.

Dorian Dervite is back in training but unlikely to start while Wellington Silva is still hoping to feature again for the Whites before the end of the season.