STEVE Parkin has pin-pointed the exact moment Wanderers cost themselves a place in the Championship.

The assistant boss believes the season could have been rescued at the start of this month, in the days after victory against QPR at Loftus Road.

Ken Anderson’s failure to pay players led to a 48-hour strike in the build-up to a must-win game at home to Ipswich and the consequent defeat against the Tractor Boys proved a fatal blow to the club’s survival chances.

“It got reported at the time that after the QPR game there was a great feeling about the lads, even though they hadn’t been paid,” he told The Bolton News.

“That was the week. If we could have been paid that week or the situation could have been put to bed in the build-up to the Ipswich game – I know hindsight is a wonderful thing but that would have helped so much. That’s just speaking from experience, really.

“That was the time but now it’s dragging on and it needs sorting out.”

Laurence Bassini, the man who struck a deal to buy Anderson’s stake at Wanderers pending EFL approval, is now trying to figure out a way to sort payment – but has experienced problems moving money into the club because accounts are currently frozen.

As The Bolton News went to press the players had yet to receive their salaries for last month.

Parkin confirmed the wage issues have affected team selection in recent weeks and hopes the situation can be resolved ahead of this weekend’s final home game against Brentford.

“As you well know, they are very difficult circumstances that we’re working under, people not being paid,” he said. “And it has gone on now for seven or eight weeks.

“Some of them are struggling, there’s no getting away from the fact.

“I think as a staff we’re the same. It takes its toll on you. But you have to try and put it to one side and be professional to do your job properly but it certainly would help if Mr Bassini would sort out the situation as soon as possible.”

Meanwhile, Wanderers have confirmed that overdue April Direct Debit payments for season tickets will be deducted from accounts on Friday, April 26.