BURNDEN Park bosses are ready to thrash out a new deal that will secure Alan Stubbs' services for at least the rest of the season.

The transfer-listed defender wants to make his peace with the club, shelve his ambitions of a high profile move and settle down to the task of helping Wanderers survive in the Premiership.

Colin Todd welcomed the player's surprise initiative today and looked forward to discussing a contract review with the club's most prized asset.

The joint manager said: "It's good news for us, without a shadow of a doubt.

"When you've got a talented player like that, you want to keep him. That's been our position all along.

"Now, if he wants to sit down and negotiate, I'll be delighted."

Stubbs has 18 months of his current contract still to run. He rejected an offer to discuss new terms in the summer when he appeared to be destined for a big money move. His formal transfer request was initially rejected but, after the dramatic collapse of his proposed £4.5 million move to Blackburn, he was listed and rested for the home game against Middlesbrough on Sept 9.

But events since his return for the QPR game a fortnight ago have prompted a change of heart. Wanderers have fended off interest from Arsenal by telling former boss Bruce Rioch they will not drop their valuation while Stubbs has got stuck into the Premiership survival business.

"I need to sit down and speak to the chairman to see what's going on," he explained. "If nothing comes along then, so be it.

"I just want to be settled and enjoying my football again and, at the moment, I'm enjoying my football with Bolton. I've enjoyed the last couple of games being back and hopefully that will be carrying on.

"I want things sorted out and it's just a matter of doing it now. I can't put a time limit on it because I'll have to see whether the club will go along with the things I want first. But maybe in a week or so I might know what's happening."

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