BOLTON has been home for the Bergsson family for the last eight years.

And that is why Wanderers star defender Gudni Bergsson is delighted with the Bolton Evening News "Keep the White Up" campaign to keep the club in the Premiership.

We launched the campaign to get the town behind Wanderers as they battle to stay in the top flight.

But regardless of where the Whites finish when the season ends next month, it will mark the end of Gudni's time at the club.

The defender and his family are returning to Iceland when the Wanderers captain retires from professional football.

Gudni is going back to Reykjavik to settle with wife Ella, 11-year-old son Bergur and five-year-old daughter Paldis-Bjork, who have already moved into their new home over there.

But the family's ties with Bolton will always be strong, with Paldis-Bjork being born here, and they promise to return regularly.

Gudni, who is still living in the family home in Bromley Cross, said: "It's been pretty hard this year, because my family has already moved back home.

"They come over when they can and I go over there at every opportunity. It's hard in that respect, but we will all be settling down together soon.

"We settled really well in Bolton. We get on famously with our neighbours, the team and the staff at the club. I'm sure we're really going to miss it here.

"We're planning to keep in contact with all our friends in Bolton and I can see us coming back every year to visit.

"I would like to keep some sort of ties with the club if I can."

The Bergssons moved up to Bolton from London in 1995, when he joined Wanderers from Tottenham Hotspur.

He signed for £110,000 and has proved a bargain buy, making more than 250 appearances and picking up Player of the Year awards.

He said: "We found Bolton was very different to London when we moved up here.

"London is a big place, especially for an Icelander. In many ways, we were glad to be living in the north. It's good having Manchester so close as well.

"We certainly settled better in Bolton and have really enjoyed our time here. All the players seem to find the club very welcoming; it is a good club to play for in every respect."

Gudni has seen three promotions and two relegations during his eight years with Wanderers -- and wants to help them stay in the Premiership this time.

He said: "I'm sure I will leave the club in a good position to go further in the Premiership. I will certainly do my best to make that happen."

Gudni's good times and bad times with Wanderers

1995: Going up -- Gudni helps Wanderers win promotion through the First Division play-offs, beating Reading 4-3 at Wembley.

1996: Going down -- Wanderers finish five points adrift at the bottom of the Premiership and are relegated.

1997: Going up -- the Whites score 100 goals as they run away with the First Division championship.

1998: Going down -- a heartbreaking defeat at Chelsea on the last day of the season sees Wanderers relegated from the Premiership by just one point.

1999: Near miss -- Bolton return to Wembley for the First Division play-off final, only to lose 0-2 to Watford, who go up in their place.

2000: Near miss -- Wanderers concede three penalties and have two players sent off in a heated 3-5 play-off semi-final defeat at Ipswich, who go on to win promotion.

2001: Going up -- In the play-offs again, the Whites this time get promoted with a 3-0 win over Preston at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

2002: Staying up -- Wanderers pull away from the Premiership relegation zone thanks to a late winning run

2003: Keep the Whites up!