PHIL Parkinson insists he does not fear a January fire sale at Wanderers.

Reports have suggested some of the Bolton squad have started to look elsewhere following continued money troubles at the club and a delayed November pay-check.

Local rivals Preston North End are understood to be monitoring the situation of two players, while Birmingham City have also been linked with a move for Josh Vela.

Parkinson put a brave face on yesterday as he took a press conference before the trip to Championship leaders Norwich City – insisting the club would have the deciding vote on who stays and who leaves next month.

“I don’t think anyone will leave unless the club decides that they want them to go,” he said. “There are players who are contracted just to January but the rest of them are under contract so I don’t see any issues with that.”

Delayed player wages have provided another unwanted distraction to a game which already sees Wanderers enter as rank outsiders.

Parkinson will not be able to call on the services of Norwich loanees Yanic Wildschut and Remi Matthews at Carrow Road but the news is better on Will Buckley, who should be available after scans on a groin problem.

Reflecting on the wage issues, Parkinson said: “It’s not an ideal situation, you can’t hide away from that, but the training has been good and it’s a terrific game to go into at Norwich.

“We’re paid to be out there on the training pitch and work to the best of our ability. We’ve just tried to get on with it and make sure the preparation and detail is as good as it possibly can be.

“I think it will be good to get aboard the coach. We’re stopping off for a training session on the way down, and I’m hoping the lads will be up for it.”

The sacking of Paul Clement at Parkinson’s former club Reading has also seen the Bolton boss installed as one of the bookmakers’ early favourites for the job.

Parkinson has legendary status as a player for the Royals, playing nearly 400 games in an 11-year spell.

“I literally only just found out about it, and it’s a shame that Paul is no longer the manager but I am concentrating on Bolton Wanderers and the weekend,” he said.