ANYONE expecting Phil Parkinson to go on a big shopping spree now Wanderers are finally out of embargo is going to be disappointed.

We all rejoiced this week when the club confirmed it was free of the restrictions which had been in place for 630 miserable days – but the EFL’s lack of public acknowledgement spoke volumes.

Not wanting to cast myself as the gloom-monger – once again – but the league is clearly still keeping a watchful eye on financial matters at the Macron Stadium and it might still be some time before the club can operate completely unrestrained.

Firstly, let’s congratulate Ken Anderson, Paul Aldridge and Co for clearing the mess they inherited to get us this far. They have had to put up with brickbats during this whole process – sometimes unfairly – so credit where credit is due.

Such was the complicated web of embargoes and special measures Wanderers found themselves under, however, there is still work to be done before the EFL’s finger is removed completely from the button.

They will want to see things running smoothly in the short-term, and that means the days of late bills and winding-up orders have to be left in the dim and distant past.

Anderson has worked hard enough to deserve a shot at running things his way. He has brought an obscene wage bill under some sort of control and with that in mind I cannot see the club over-stretching themselves to sign free agents just because they can.

Parkinson is realistic. He knows his squad could benefit from one or two squad players but there are no outstanding candidates out there.

Joey O’Brien would be an interesting addition. He is experienced, he knows the club and his versatility would be a big asset.

Julio Baptista would be a great story but the Brazilian still has plenty of questions to answer on whether the bottom end of the Championship is really where he wants to be playing his football at the age of 35.

Lots of Wanderers fans have made the assumption the removal of transfer restrictions, and in particular that bizarre £4,500-a-week salary cap, would pave the way for a move for Jay Spearing.

I can’t fathom why the former Bolton skipper is still without a club but both Parkinson and Anderson have claimed Wanderers have “moved on” in recent weeks, so it will be interesting if current developments make them change their mind. In my opinion, for what it is worth, there are not many better players out there for nowt.

The best thing to emerge from Thursday’s announcement is something that won’t cost Wanderers a red cent.

Alex Perry, Jeff King, Jake Turner and Conor Hall can function as normal footballers again now that the unfathomable rules do not restrict them to Under-23s duties.

They can be loaned out and they can work hard and push for a place in Parkinson’s squad, just like any other young footballer with hopes of a proper career.

Through 90 weeks of this curious, mysterious process, there were questions it seemed no-one – not the club, or the EFL – could answer. Had it gone on much longer we may have had to call for Mulder and Scully.

How did they arrive at the £4,500-a-week salary cap, and why was it hoisted on Parkinson’s squad midway through the summer?

Why should young players on a professional contract be prevented from being loaned out? And what is the harm in being allowed to play them in EFL cup competitions designed, they say, to increase chances for homegrown talent?

Thankfully we no longer have to torment ourselves. Provided Wanderers is run efficiently from here on in we might look forward to a January window where Parkinson can finally select from the thicker end of the wedge.

Bolton fans are not expecting millions to be spent; most of us just want to put our accounting textbooks away