PHIL Parkinson remained defiant despite mounting calls for his to be removed as manager of Bolton Wanderers.

Speaking after a 1-0 defeat to Hull City, Parkinson said the job he had done during two-and-a-half years with the club deserves respect.

Frazier Campbell’s solitary goal consigned Wanderers to a second home defeat in four days, leaving them four points off the relegation zone with just one win in 11.

Ken Anderson had hinted days before the game that drastic action may be taken to remedy the club’s form.

Parkinson believes, however, that he deserves a stay of execution.

“I don’t think there is a decision to make,” he told The Bolton News. “But I am cool, whatever.

“I worked very, very hard, committed a lot of time and effort getting this club back up and running again, and even this season the problems I’ve had to face – I don’t come out in the press and document them week in, week out. I keep my counsel.

“I am absolutely delighted with the job I have done at this football club, I really am.

“Obviously I am hurting because when you get beat you take it personally. What will be, will be. But me and my staff have done a wonderful job and hopefully will continue to do so.”

Parkinson insists Wanderers are still punching above their weight, given financial investment in the squad.

And having seen his fair share of problems since arriving at Bolton from Bradford City in the summer of 2016, he insists enough progress is being made to warrant a show of faith from owner/chairman Anderson.

“When I came into the club people asked why I was taking it,” he said. “They said it was going to be like Portsmouth, drop right through the divisions.

“We got promotion, we stayed up last year when by rights by Christmas we should have been dead and buried with everything that has gone on at the club. It was an incredible achievement.

“This year we have still got a better points total than we had at this stage last season. I think we’re nine points better off and we’ve lost some key players.

“We’re actually over-achieving in this division in terms of resources but we know we’re on an indifferent run. We just need a goal to spark us off.

“At the moment it isn’t happening. As a manager when you are not winning games the pressure is on you. But overall, what I have done for the club, I deserve a lot of respect from everybody connected with the club.”

Parkinson made seven changes to his side for the defeat against Hull City, moving to a back three, but despite creating a handful of decent chances Wanderers could not find the killer touch.

Erhun Oztumer, Clayton Donaldson, Josh Vela, Joe Williams and Christian Doidge all had sights of goal, yet their failure to hit the target summed up Bolton’s recent troubles.

“We changed the shape and the lads adapted well,” he said. “We had enough chances to get something from the game but we can’t keep missing the target like we’re doing.

“We had 16 attempts, three hit the target, but were they good saves? Probably not.

“Some of the approach play was very good again but you can see the confidence levels are low. The belief when we are in that we are going to score is not there. We have to find it from somewhere.

“The lads showed great bravery. There has been a lot of negativity around, which is understandable, but even at 1-0 down we kept passing the ball around.

“They worked on the shape we’d implemented in training and there were some good individual performances out there on the pitch.

“But we need someone to take a chance to give everyone a lift and it looks like a team who’s desperate to produce a moment out of nothing to let the confidence come flooding back. It’s evident for all to see.”