FERNANDO Hierro has hinted he could postpone his retirement plans this summer, if Wanderers book their place in Europe.

The legendary Spaniard, who captained Real Madrid to three Champions League triumphs, believes there could still be one more exciting chapter to write in his personal fairytale.

This was to have been his last season but the good times are rolling again for one of the great Galacticos and he admits he is starting to have second thoughts.

Speaking with enthusiasm of his impressions of the Premiership, with warmth about his affection for the Wanderers and with great understanding of what it would mean, historically, if they were to qualify for Europe, he confirmed today that he could consider extending his Reebok stay.

"It's a decision I am planning to take at the last possible moment," he said. "I will look at the position of Bolton and evaluate the situation then."

Hierro's stance has shifted considerably since the turn of the year when he was shocked to discover he was one of seven players transfer-listed by Sam Allardyce in what proved an unsuccessful attempt to raise transfer funds.

Having struggled to make an impact in the Premiership, he suggested he would hang up his boots when his one-season Wanderers contract ended in May. But since then he has emerged as a key figure in the quest for European qualification - at the expense of his former Real team-mate and close friend, Ivan Campo.

The experience appears to have strengthened his determination to help Allardyce achieve his ambition to become the first manager in history to take Wanderers into Europe.

"At the time I was a bit surprised to see my name on the list," he said without a trace of bitterness. "I didn't know it was coming.

"But at no point did I think I was likely to leave the club.

"When I take on a goal, such as the contract I have with Bolton, I like to see things through right to the end and that's what I intend to do to show I can be a great player for this club.

"I've wanted to remain here throughout and, being the professional player that I am, I always wanted to stay on. I train hard, put in the performances and play hard to stay in the team because, when I leave, I will go out as a playing player."

Allardyce knew from the outset that Hierro would play only sparingly this season, after spending a year out of maintsream football in Qatar, and gave him a contract that reflected those expectations.

Like Hierro he is not ruling out an extended deal but believes the 37-year-old Spaniard might well follow the lead of Reebok legend, Gudni Bergsson, who postponed his retirement three times before calling it a day after helping secure a third season of Premiership football.

"It's about sitting down with him at the end of the season and finding out whether he wants to carry on putting himself through the torture you have to go through at his age to maintain the level of football and not get into a position where he can't cope," the manager said.

"He will want to walk away on a high, like Gudni did,

"Gudni retired on one of the biggest highs of his career and, if Fernando leaves us in a position we are in now, which is a guaranteed UEFA Cup place, what an achievement that will be for us and for him!"

Hierro is too wily a campaigner to take anything for granted and gave his team-mates a gentle reminder ahead of the trip to Liverpool of the need to stay focused.

"We need to be smart at this stage of the season," he said. "If we only think about the Champions League as a goal for Bolton to aim towards, there is a risk that we might go off the rails.

"What we need to really do is think about the match.

"I don't want to think too much about the future. For the moment I just want to concentrate on the fairytale and making history for Bolton Wanderers."