Dougie Freedman 'proud' of Bolton progress as play-offs await

Dougie Freedman has said it will be a huge achievement to take Bolton into the Championship play-offs, having been 20th at the start of February.

A top-six spot is likely to be sealed with a win over Blackpool on Saturday.

"I haven't spent a lot of money and I'm proud of where we are," manager Freedman told BBC Radio Manchester.

"I'm very proud that the same lads that were here when we walked through the door in October are the same lads that are (closing in on) the play-offs."

Freedman, who left Crystal Palace to replace Owen Coyle as Wanderers boss, took charge with the club 16th in the Championship.

Bolton made three permanent signings in January, bringing in plus Leicester defender Cian Bolger and Partizan Belgrade midfielder Medo Kamara for undisclosed fees.

The arrival on loan of defender Craig Dawson - who has now returned to West Bromwich Albion - has also aided Bolton's revival in the second half of the season.

They were fifth from bottom and three points above the relegation zone following a 2-1 defeat at Watford on 2 February, but have since won 10 of their next 16 league matches and now lie sixth in the table.

If Bolton win against Blackpool, the only way they could be denied a play-off spot is if seventh-placed Nottingham Forest beat Leicester and effect a four-goal swing to better Wanderers' goal difference.

"We've prepared in exactly the same way," insisted Freedman. "The lads are very relaxed.

"We've been in this position for the last three months, having to win games of football, so they're very comfortable about what they've got to do on Saturday."

And even with their fate still to be decided, Bolton boss Freedman has already started planning for next season.

He added: "We will be signing two players by the end of this month, no matter what division with in, and there are another three on the sheet that the chairman [Phil Gartside] is aware of.

"I sign a certain profile of player and it doesn't matter what division we're in, I know what players we're going to go after."