Gary Megson has reiterated his fears that Bolton face another season of struggle if they fail to bolster their squad significantly in the summer. After four successive top-eight finishes between 2004 and 2007, the side have languished in the lower half of the Premier League for the past two years.
Safety was assured after a fraught battle with relegation last term but Megson's side head to Wigan tomorrow still seeking to cement their top-flight status for a ninth successive year. Bolton lie on 38 points and Megson is determined to add to his squad in the coming months once the threat of relegation has ended.
"We haven't got one of the smallest squads in the Premier League – it is the smallest squad," Megson claimed. "I think Liverpool have got 62 professionals on their books and we have 27.
"It's important that we make sure we're safe first and then we'll assess the season and look at what needs to be done. Player recruitment will certainly be one of the issues that will be addressed."
Megson has impressed with his spending since replacing the luckless Sammy Lee in October 2007. Gary Cahill and Matt Taylor – both tipped to win full England international honours – and Gretar Steinsson were bought in January 2008 and played a key role in the club's survival last term.
In the summer Megson persuaded the club to spend £10m on the Sweden striker Johan Elmander and £5m on the Birmingham midfielder Fabrice Muamba.
The jury remains out on those two but Megson said: "I've been pleased with all of my signings because they joined a club that wasn't on the up. It was going the other way, to be perfectly honest.
"A lot of change has happened in the past 18 months but we still need more change because the squad still isn't strong enough. I think the team is strong enough but if you look at our substitutes' bench last weekend against Aston Villa it didn't cost one penny. They were free transfers and a couple of kids who had come through the academy.
"It's something that we do need to address so that when we have problems then we are still capable of getting results."
Victory at Wigan would finally end Megson's relegation fears and draw them level with their local rivals on 41 points.
"I don't think Wigan can go down but they will still want to beat us and finish the season in a rich vein of form," added Megson. "Everybody has done a good job at Wigan – not just Steve Bruce but the coaching staff, the directors, the owner – but most of all the players."
