Former Wanderers assistant Steve Parkin has opened up about the tough times he experienced at the club.

Parkin was Phil Parkinson’s right-hand man during his time in charge at the University of Bolton Stadium.

The Whites won promotion to the Championship during Parkinson’s first campaign in the hot seat and avoided relegation on the final day the following season thanks to a memorable comeback against Nottingham Forest.

But Wanderers were relegated 12 months later and the pair resigned from their positions amid the club’s financial issues off the pitch.

Parkin admits things got “very bad” during his time at the UniBol but says it made his relationship with Parkinson even stronger.

“We’ve been through thick and thin together and all those experiences help you,” he told The Athletic.

“Particularly the thin times. It is easy for everyone when the place is cock-a-hoop and people are bouncing around like a Ribena berry. But the biggest test of a relationship is when things are not going well.

“We’ve had that adversity, particularly at Bolton. Things got very bad there, but those bad times told us how strong our relationship was.

“I like to think Phil trusts me in that I am never going to want his job. I had 10 years as a manager, 400-odd games. That was enough for me.”

The pair are now at Wrexham, who are currently second in the National League as they aim to win promotion into the EFL.

They have also worked together at Bradford and Sunderland, while Parkin had spells in charge of the likes of Barnsley and Rochdale earlier in his career.

“We work well together,” the 57-year-old added. “We are very different as people but also similar, which I know sounds a contradiction.

“What I mean is we’re both competitive, desperate to win. Same with how seriously we take our work.

“But we are different in that I am probably a bit more outgoing. He is slightly more reserved, whereas I like to get in among the boys and have good banter.

“There is a mutual respect there. I see how hard he works, the hours that he puts in. I see what it means to him.

“I see the attention to detail with video analysis and everything like that. With all due respect, I like all that. But could I do it as in-depth as Phil? Possibly not.”