With a host of new arrivals at The Reebok Stadium during the off season, experienced stopper Andy O'Brien is relishing the increased competition for places at the club.

The former Portsmouth defender is looking ahead to the new season and optimistic that the club can improve on last season's mid table 13th placed finish.

Trotters boss Gary Megson is building from the back at the Lancashire club and has signed a trio of stoppers that he hopes will shore-up his workmanlike defence. Welsh international Sam Ricketts has arrived from Hull along with Paul Robinson and Zat Knight from midlands clubs West Brom and Aston Villa respectively.

O'Brien, 30, had a refreshing outlook on the increased competition for places at the Reebok and believes it can only mean good things for the club.

The Republic of Ireland international has appeared over 60 times in the league for The Trotters since arriving at the club in 2007. He talked about the determined work ethic in place at Bolton, where everyone is striving for success.

"Competition can only be healthy - at the end of the day you have got to look at the bigger picture," he told the club's official website.

"If you're in the team you have to work hard to stay in it, if you're not in the team then you have to work hard to get into it. The principle for all the players is all the same."

"It has been hard work but we are built on the principle of working very hard first and foremost."