DAVID Wheater has leapt to the defence of manager Phil Parkinson, insisting: “Players don’t want to see him leave.”

A bright start in the Championship now well faded, Wanderers find themselves a point off the bottom three after 16 games following a dismal run of results.

Fans’ anger has begun to turn towards Parkinson, whose side has won just one of their last 12 in the league.

Ken Anderson has attempted to ease the pressure on Parkinson’s shoulders by claiming the day after defeat to Aston Villa that there would be no “immediate” decisions made on the manager.

Wanderers captain Wheater concurs that is no appetite for change within the dressing room as preparations begin for this weekend’s home clash with Swansea City.

“I’ve never really understood why a manager gets it more than the players – I mean, he doesn’t go out there, it’s us,” he told The Bolton News.

“We don’t want change. We want the manager to keep his job because he’s worked miracles.

“He’s bought two players in two-and-a-half years he’s been with us, got promoted, stayed up, and hopefully we can do that again. But he’s been fantastic for us.

“I don’t think he should fear for his job. I see him every day on the training ground and he’s brilliant, he takes us for extra work afterwards and I hope he’s not under pressure.

“You see all these teams spending £20-25 million and wonder.”

Wheater has worn the captain’s armband since the start of the season and admits the current run has been tough to take.

“It felt fantastic at the start of the season when we riding high,” he said. “But ever since I have been here I’ve felt like one of the leaders. It’s my home town, so maybe this does hurt me more than some of the others – but the captaincy hasn’t changed how I feel when we lose games.

“It’s just so disappointing knowing how much hard work is going into preparing for these games from the players and the manager. It’s hard to lose games at any time but when you feel you’re giving everything it’s harder.”

Meanwhile, Wanderers have refused to comment on claims there were problems with salary payments to senior players in the build-up to Friday night’s defeat at Aston Villa.

The Bolton News understands as many as five first-teamers suffered issues with their October salary, which had been due to hit accounts first thing on Wednesday morning.

The issue was resolved before the team travelled to Villa Park – although the club has declined to expand on the reasons for the delay, or whether players were warned in advance.