PERSISTENCE paid off for Wanderers when Rod Wallace finally signed on at the Reebok.

Bolton have been long time admirers of the speedy striker and it was that longstanding interest which helped them win the race for his services.

Wallace, released by Rangers in the summer at his own request, had the choice of three clubs but the fact he would be going where he has long been wanted played a telling part in his decision.

"I know Bolton have been interested in me for some time," he said. "It came up last season when I was at Rangers and then when the chance to come here arose again in June I was interested.

"There were other clubs interested but Bolton have been the mainstay.

"They are also in the Premiership which is where I want to be."

The 31-year-old made an instant impact with the goal which took Bolton back to the top of the Premiership in Wednesday night's 1-1 draw at Blackburn. Not bad considering he is only 70 per cent fit.

He knows he has plenty of gruelling hours to put in on the training ground before he reaches the same fitness levels as the rest of the Reebok squad. But at least he will have proper facilities to work with, unlike the last few months since leaving Rangers.

"I've been keeping myself fit just running around parks and training in a public gym," he added.

"I need to get my sharpness to get up to the standards of the other boys here. I have got a lot of work to do and it is going to be tough but Iam prepared to work hard."

In the meantime he hopes his goalscoring appearance as a second half sub at Ewood Park will earn him the not to stay on the bench when Wanderers visit Arsenal tomorrow.

"I hope I will be involved. I have been out a long time and all I want to do is score goals and help the team."

He could have still been doing that with Rangers if he had not taken the decision that it was time for him to leave the Glasgow giants, a decision which left him without a contract since June and with a niggling worry about where he future lay.

"It was my decision to leave Rangers," he revealed. "My time was up there. I had three great seasons, I scored goals, picked up medals and played in the Champions League but my time was up and it was my decision.

"I knew I would get another club it was just a case of where. I have got faith in my ability although I had to keep myself mentally strong.

"The fact that I have been through the same thing once before helped me get through it. When I left Leeds the Leeds players had been back training for two weeks before I signed for Rangers."

His move has the added attraction of bringing him closer to his two famous ex-footballing brothers, Danny and Ray who works part-time with the under-11s at Wanderers.

"We are all back living in the same area and we are all excited about it," he added. "We are close knit and it's great that I can chill out with them again."