KEITH Hill reckons winning back the Wanderers fans could be the best signing he ever makes.

The new Whites boss gets ready for his first home league match in charge tonight against Oxford United and is promising to bring an attacking brand of football back to the club.

More than 8,000 season tickets had been sold by the end of last week and Hill is keen to reward Bolton supporters for their show of faith in troubled times.

“We want to reflect that support,” he said. “Honestly, they talk about the old cliché of fans being the 12th man but they are a valuable squad member.

“They are part of this squad. If we’ve recruited one big thing in this window, it’s the fans.

“We had two days locked in a room but I can’t think of anything more important we got.

“They have bought into it and they have will have to remain a massive part of what we are doing.

“They have to be our backbone and we’ll have to rely on them. There will be hard times on the pitch but when we go out there they have to protect us, inspire us."

Hill also explained his pre-match tip of the flat cap at Rotherham, and his demonstrative gesture to push his players over towards the away end at the final whistle.

“They were magnificent on Saturday and my gesture wasn’t one of self-protection, it was an honest moment to the fans because I’m one of them and I understand what they have gone through.”