COLIN Todd will make a fresh bid this week to try to keep Jon Newsome at the Reebok. Wanderers have so far failed to agree a fee with Sheffield Wednesday for the influential centre-back, who played the final game of his month's loan spell in Saturday's 3-1 victory over Portsmouth.

But Todd is determined not to give up and is still hopeful of securing Newsome's services.

"We have a value on the player and they have a value and we are a bit apart at this moment," the Bolton boss confirmed.

"Whether or not we can resolve that remains to be seen. We will have to keep speaking to each other."

Wanderers, now unbeaten in seven games, have taken 14 points from a possible 18 and conceded only three goals since Newsome's arrival. His centre-back partnership with fellow loan star Paul Warhurst has helped shore up a previously suspect defence - an improvement acknowledged by the fact that Todd is also hoping to strike a deal this week that would bring the Crystal Palace defender back to his native North-west. One short-term solution to the Newsome wrangle could be an extension of his loan, although that would not allow him to play in the third round FA Cup tie at home to Wolves on Jan 2.

"We can try to extend it," Todd said, "but there's no guarantees at this moment."

Now Newsome, who has said he would be happy to join Wanderers, can only wait for the clubs to decide his future.

He would certainly be welcomed in the dressing room, as would Warhurst.

"Jon 'Gruesome' as I call him and Paul have given us a lot of discipline in the back four and hopefully we can maintain that," Dean Holdsworth said hopefully.

"We're looking for anything that can strengthen our team and if they sign it will be a massive bonus but that's beyond the players' control. We'll just have to see what develops."

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