SIMON Coleman fears he may have to leave Burnden Park to satisfy his desire for first team football.

The Wanderers central defender turned down a move to Division One rivals Oxford yesterday after failing to agree personal terms.

But he still feels his Bolton days are numbered, despite assurances from manager Colin Todd that he still has a place in his squad.

"I don't want to leave, I just want to play," Coleman said today. "But I've had only 13 games in the last two years and it looks as though my future lies elsewhere."

Coleman, who played a key role in the 94-95 promotion campaign before breaking his leg, has made just one senior appearance this season - at Luton in the FA Cup - after a lengthy lay-off with a calf injury. He now appears to have slipped to third choice centre-back behind Chris Fairclough, Gerry Taggart and Gudni Bergsson, who has been playing at right-back.

Todd agreed a £350,000 deal that would have taken the 28-year-old central defender to the Manor Ground but Coleman could not agree personal terms with Oxford boss Denis Smith.

He welcomed Coleman back with the assurance that he continues to figure in his squad but with no guarantees.

The manager said: "The transfer didn't come off but I've told him that he will still be treated as one of our players, just as he was before. Nothing has changed."

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