PHIL Parkinson has beefed up his backline, re-signing centre-back David Wheater on a one-year deal.

Wheater, one of the Whites' biggest earners last season, has rejoined on a far lesser wage than he took home last term.

Many fans will be delighted that the former Middlesbrough man has pledged to help right the wrongs of last season, and with family ties firmly in the North West Wheater admits he is happy to be back at the club he has called home since January 2011.

"I know I'm definitely not one of the biggest earners at the club any more," he told The Bolton News after putting his name to a year's contract.

"If I'm honest there was always a part of me that felt I might be able to come back. My little girl Olivia, who's two, has just started nursery here and my boy Arthur is just two weeks old so it's good for me.

"I knew that if I was going to then it would be on a reduced rate but for some reason there was never a point when I walked out of the club and thought I would never play for Bolton again.

"It was nice when the manager rang me up and asked if I could come back for pre-season.

"I knew he did a really good job at Bradford, taking them to a cup final – that's a great achievement.

"From what I've seen he is a really good coach as well as a manager, sometimes you get good managers who are not great coaches, but he definitely is and the lads have really bought into it too."

Like many of last season's squad Wheater is banishing the misery of last season and looking to what could – and perhaps should – be a successful campaign in new territory.

In 2009 he tasted relegation from the Premier League with Boro, but stayed to try to help the club bounce back. Now, a tier further down, he is again aiming for a quick turnaround.

"I remember Gareth Southgate saying it could be good for us in the long run, and I know what he meant," he said. "If we can get a good run of wins we can push on and build confidence around the club.

"We just need to get winning games early doors, get the confidence flowing again, play some nice football, especially at the Macron, and give the crowds something to cheer.

"When they're on your back it makes it difficult, sometimes we deserved the boos but when the fans are on your side it's a great feeling and it helps your game, it gives you that extra bit that can make the difference."