THE threat of relegation has left four of Wanderers' most high-profile players in limbo.

Jussi Jaaskelainen, Ivan Campo, Ricardo Gardner and Stelios - all of whom have played a major part in establishing the club as a Premiership force - are all out of contract at the end of the season.

But Gary Megson says the club can't talk turkey with any of the four until they know what division they will be in next season.

"I feel sorry for some of the players in this situation," the Wanderers boss said, "but we are doing this for one reason and one reason alone: we can't make long-term plans until we know, short-term, what we are going to be doing.

"With Ivan, Jussi, Bibi' Gardner, Stelios and all those people, we can't do anything long term until we start picking up points to enable us to look a little bit further forward."

Stelios - a major influence in his first three seasons since joining Wanderers from Olympiakos in the summer of 2003 - has played only bit parts this season, although he has made notable contributions, including the cross for El-Hadji Diouf's goal against Atletico Madrid on Thursday night and the injury-time Premiership winner at home to Derby.

But he turned down a chance to join Sheffield United on loan because he wanted to stay and fight for his place at the Reebok in the hope of making the Greece squad for the defence of their European Championship title this summer.

Jaaskelainen, Campo and Gardner, however, have all been regulars and have given no indication that they aren't happy at the Reebok.

The Finland keeper's contract dispute has dragged on for some time though, and it's touch and go whether the club's longest-serving player can be persuaded to sign a new deal this summer, regardless of what division Wanderers are in. Gardner isn't thought to be looking elsewhere but Campo was so close to quitting the game, after being frozen out by Sammy Lee, that Wanderers didn't even register him in their original UEFA Cup squad.

But the Spaniard, who joined Bolton from Real Madrid in August 2002, has featured prominently under Megson and spoke recently of his wish to extend his Reebok stay. He says he has had preliminary talks with his Wanderers bosses but has been told he must wait before any significant discussions take place.

"I think the players do accept the situation," Megson said. "But whether they are comfortable with it or not, I'm not sure.

"There's not really a great deal more that we can do.

"If we could get results on the board and get out of this position, then we can start looking forward a little bit more than we are doing at the moment."