LONG-OVERDUE wages finally hit staff members’ bank accounts yesterday, ending the last troubled chapter at Wanderers.

And, having come through the last few weeks, Parkinson revealed his admiration for the spirit and character within his squad.

The manager says his players’ dedication and commitment on the training field, in the face of a poor string of results and the off-field concerns, gives him the belief the Whites can start to climb the table.

“Sometimes in adversity people stick together don’t they, the lads have done that and they’ve got to continue to do that,” he said ahead of facing Leeds. “If you look at last year’s survival that was based on hard work and honesty. We’ve got to show that in abundance week in, week out.

“When you’re on an indifferent run of results you look for character in the team and we have to stand up and be counted.

“The players keep driving the standards in training, I think that’s key.

“You can’t let that drop because in the modern game you have to train with that intensity to be able to play and it’s important that the senior players we have at the training ground train well every week.

“We have got good senior players, that is a great influence on the younger players, not just the younger pros but the under-23s and youngsters too. Throughout the season those characters are so important.

“We’ve got them at the training ground and that’s why the standards have been kept throughout last season and so far this season.”

As for his own future, Parkinson has been linked with the vacant manager’s post at Reading, the club at which he spent more than 10 years as a player.

But, with more than enough on his plate, he says he has not been in touch with the Royals, preferring to concentrate on the matter in hand at Bolton.

“I’m just concentrating on what we’ve got to do this weekend, I’ve got no other thoughts in my mind at all,” he said.

“If Reading were going to do anything they’d do it officially from club to club.”