FILIPE Morais is keen to get another crack at the Championship next season with Wanderers.

After coming through his first-ever campaign in the second tier at the age of 32, the midfielder is one of a number of players waiting to hear if they will be kept on at the Macron Stadium.

Phil Parkinson was given the all-clear by Ken Anderson on Friday to push forward with his recruitment plans, and sign up those who can help Wanderers next term.

And Morais, who made 33 league appearances, starting 18 times, feels he has answered those who doubted he could cut the mustard at a higher level.

“That was always in the back of my head when we came into this division but I have felt good,” he told The Bolton News. “I say to anyone who’ll listen that I wasted my early career and didn’t play enough games.

“Ability-wise I feel like I have saved my best for the end of my career.

“I don’t think people would have expected me to feature in as many games as I have but I genuinely feel like I’ve got the fitness and energy of a kid. When you see Jedi (Antonee Robinson) bombing up and down, you know you’ve got to match that.

“The gaffer knows me and I’m grateful he was brave enough to put me out there to show what I can do at this level.

“Given the opportunity next season I feel I can kick on and improve. I know the gaffer will want to push on and make a better team, and I can go up another level too.”

Morais is a long way from retirement but has already put in place a plan for when he hangs up his boots.

“I’ve done my badges and been quite pro-active,” he said. “Since I met the manager he’s helped me be a better professional on and off the pitch.

“That coaching side of the game interests me. I speak to as many people in the game about their experiences and how they go about coaching and I’ve got my own academy in Bradford too.”

Wanderers full-back Stephen Darby has also started studying towards his UEFA B coaching badges alongside former club captain Jay Spearing.