NEIL Lennon admits the first task of the new year is to protect the future of Bolton Wanderers Football Club at all costs.

Faced with the prospect of selling his best players to pay the bills, the Whites boss is under no illusion that his job could get even tougher in the next few months.

The transfer window reopened today but rather than look at how he can strengthen his squad by the end of January, Lennon is simply waiting to be told by how much it will be diminished.

The likes of Zach Clough, Josh Vela and Mark Davies look to be most at risk as the financial problems faced by the club make a fire sale all the more probable.

Terry Robinson has been recruited personally by owner Eddie Davies as a consultant to examine how the club can cut costs across the board, and to negotiate any outgoing deals.

It is believed that every effort will be made to raise cash to pay the outstanding tax and VAT bills – now standing at more than £1million – plus wages, before the worst case scenario of administration is considered.

As such, Lennon goes into today’s game against Huddersfield Town knowing there are no guarantees in 2016.

“There is no question this past year has not been one of, but the toughest year in football management for me,” he told The Bolton News.

“It has been a tough one for the club as well on and off the field but particularly off it.

“The money has not been there to do what we want to do.

“Basically it is a question of safeguarding the club’s future now and hopefully the new year can bring that.

“I’m sure it is something I can add to my resume as part of the experience of being a football manager.

“It’s not something you sign up for or envisage but it has been a learning process for me.

“We finished 2015 on a win and hopefully we can start the new year in the same fashion on Saturday and push on from there.”

Lennon saluted the support given by the Wanderers fans in such trying circumstances and is hoping the team respond again today at the Macron to put together back-to-back victories for the first time since December 2014.

“It was a fantastic turnout on Monday against Blackburn,” he said. “The supporters are amazing and the atmosphere at the end of the game was incredible.

“Considering what the club and fans have been through, to see them all go away happy was really worth it.

“They were right to have a go at Rotherham – the second-half performance was nothing like us at all so they were right to vent their fury.

“The players responded in the right way and a positive way and got the result on Monday.”