HAILED for helping secure the victory that put Wanderers in touching distance of Premiership survival, Rod Wallace may not be around to enjoy the fruits of his labours next season.

The former Southampton, Leeds and Rangers striker - out of work when Sam Allardyce recruited him last September - could spend his second successive summer looking for employment unless he can hammer out a fresh deal when his short-term contract expires. He has already been touted for a move in the wave of tabloid speculation leading up to last month's transfer deadline.

"I'll just have to wait and see what goes on," Wallace said as he looked to an uncertain future. "There was some stuff in the papers a while back but all I can do is wait and see what happens."

The 32-year-old 'Jack-in-a-box' front man, preferred to both Michael Ricketts and Dean Holdsworth as partner to Fredi Bobic, had a hand in two of the goals in Saturday's 4-1 rout of Ipswich, which virtually condemned the Suffolk club to relegation and left Wanderers fans looking forward to another top flight campaign.

Allardyce acknowledged: "Rod Wallace made a big contribution, even though he didn't score. He was a provider ... he did some good work for Fredi's second goal and it was his good work that gave Youri (Djorkaeff) the tap-in for his goal."

It was Wallace's 15th Premiership appearance since joining Wanderers, having spent three months unattached after rejecting a new contract offer from the Ibrox giants last close season.

His signing was the first of a number of essential and ultimately successful running repairs Allardyce made to his squad which was short in depth and ravaged by injury when the season kicked off but which evolved into a multi-talented, experienced fighting force bursting with confidence after winning three of their last four games.

"We've kept the same shape but the personnel has changed from time to time," Wallace pointed out. "Some players have been in the team then been left out ... that's the way football is. But the team spirit has always been good and we showed that on Saturday.

"I've only been here a few months but it was always up to me to make the most of it and do what I could to get the results to keep Bolton in the Premier League.

"That was the main aim."

Like everyone else in the Reebok camp, Wallace is refusing to celebrate survival until it is mathematically certain but, in common with the rest, he is optimistic.

"The boys are confident now we've had a couple of good results over the last few weeks," he confirmed.

"We had the loss against Everton, which set us back a little bit, but we've shown that we are full of confidence.

"The experience is there and all we've got to do is get whatever results will keep us in the Premiership. And that will make it all worthwhile."