PHIL Parkinson says his own future at Bolton Wanderers will not be finalised until he has sat down with new owners.

Tasked with holding the fort by administrators during a summer of huge disruption at the UniBol, it is still by no means certain who will lead the team into League One.

Parkinson, potentially in his fourth season at Bolton, has had positive talks with the Football Ventures consortium, who stand on the verge of buying the club, and consultants during the administration period.

But with so much left to sort before the big kick-off against Wycombe in just 10 days’ time, he is still waiting for the full picture to emerge before committing to another campaign.

“The administrators took over my contract, and the rest of the staff’s contract, so we’re effectively still employed by the club and trying to do a job the best we can,” he told The Bolton News.

“Obviously, we have had talks about the future but as I said at the end of last season, when the club is sold, I look forward to sitting down with the new owners and making a decision which is to the best interest of the club and myself, going forward.

“Until the club is officially sold it’s very difficult to have complete clarity.”

Backroom boys Steve Parkin, Matt Barrass, Nick Allamby and Lee Butler have all gone without pay for the last 20 weeks.

Parkinson believes his trusted team have put the club before their own personal positions.

“Myself and the staff are trying to hold things together in the most professional manner we possibly can but it is an incredibly difficult situation,” he said.

“It has been really, really tough but the long-term future of Bolton Wanderers is the important thing. Everyone is just hoping we get out of the other side, so we can all move on.”

Like most supporters, Parkinson hoped the takeover would be completed by the start of pre-season, which was itself pushed back by a few days because there were padlocks on the changing rooms and offices and no hot water at Lostock.

The uncertainty over the club’s future has prompted players to withdraw their services for games against Chester and Preston, and made Oldham seek alternate opposition for a friendly on Saturday – which was meant to be the final warm-up game.

With so much up in the air, Parkinson feels he is right to wait until new owners are officially installed before making a decision on his future.

“The situation has gone on a lot longer than anyone has anticipated and because time is now of the essence, we have had preliminary talks with all parties but until new owners are in it is difficult to say I am going to be here, or there,” he said.

“I said to the administrators when they adopted our contracts that I would be happy to stay and try to help stabilise the ship a bit, to do my best to keep things going, but it is not right to say anything is set in stone.”