lsgworldl
10-19-2004, 07:23 AM
Good news for bolton
Bolton manager Sam Allardyce has agreed a new five-year contract.
Allardyce, recently linked with the manager's job at Newcastle, has led Bolton to fourth place in the Premiership after an excellent start.
Bolton chairman Phil Gartside said: "Sam won't be going anywhere. He's got a job he started five years ago and we always said it was a 10-year job.
"He said to me five years ago he wanted to retire from Bolton after 10 years - when he was 55."
Gartside added: "I am sure he won't but we are well on the way to reaching that 55.
"Then it is up to him to do what he wants in football, really."
The deal was announced the day before Allardyce celebrates his 50th birthday.
This needed to be done - hopefully, he's up there in the top five as far as managers' earnings are concerned
From Andy Walsh
Have your say on 606
Allardyce arrived from Notts County in 1999 and promotion was secured the following season when Preston were beaten in the play-off final at Cardiff.
Bolton have continued to progress and last season reached the final of the Carling Cup before going down to Middlesbrough.
In the process, Allardyce has managed to attract top-quality players like Jay-Jay Okocha, Ivan Campo, Gary Speed and Youri Djorkaeff.
The Dudley-born manager has always had a soft spot for Bolton, having arrived at the club as a player when only 15.
Gartside said: "He is Bolton through and through. His family have grown up in the town.
"He still lives in the same house when he first moved here. He is very happy.
"Bolton is close to his heart. It is his club really."
Gartside added: "We are not stopping where we are, we are more ambitious than that. We want to carry on this success. A sustained run in the Premier League is what we really want. That is the only place to play in the United Kingdom.
"You start off the season hoping to be there the following season. We have 15 points after nine games so we have got a chance.
"People might say we punch above our weight but I don't know if that is true.
"We are competing with a group of teams that goes from about eighth or ninth down in financial strength.
"If you get to the top of that group you can sneak a European place. That's our ambition now.
"Who knows what could happen if we sustain our current form, top six maybe."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/3753316.stm
Bolton manager Sam Allardyce has agreed a new five-year contract.
Allardyce, recently linked with the manager's job at Newcastle, has led Bolton to fourth place in the Premiership after an excellent start.
Bolton chairman Phil Gartside said: "Sam won't be going anywhere. He's got a job he started five years ago and we always said it was a 10-year job.
"He said to me five years ago he wanted to retire from Bolton after 10 years - when he was 55."
Gartside added: "I am sure he won't but we are well on the way to reaching that 55.
"Then it is up to him to do what he wants in football, really."
The deal was announced the day before Allardyce celebrates his 50th birthday.
This needed to be done - hopefully, he's up there in the top five as far as managers' earnings are concerned
From Andy Walsh
Have your say on 606
Allardyce arrived from Notts County in 1999 and promotion was secured the following season when Preston were beaten in the play-off final at Cardiff.
Bolton have continued to progress and last season reached the final of the Carling Cup before going down to Middlesbrough.
In the process, Allardyce has managed to attract top-quality players like Jay-Jay Okocha, Ivan Campo, Gary Speed and Youri Djorkaeff.
The Dudley-born manager has always had a soft spot for Bolton, having arrived at the club as a player when only 15.
Gartside said: "He is Bolton through and through. His family have grown up in the town.
"He still lives in the same house when he first moved here. He is very happy.
"Bolton is close to his heart. It is his club really."
Gartside added: "We are not stopping where we are, we are more ambitious than that. We want to carry on this success. A sustained run in the Premier League is what we really want. That is the only place to play in the United Kingdom.
"You start off the season hoping to be there the following season. We have 15 points after nine games so we have got a chance.
"People might say we punch above our weight but I don't know if that is true.
"We are competing with a group of teams that goes from about eighth or ninth down in financial strength.
"If you get to the top of that group you can sneak a European place. That's our ambition now.
"Who knows what could happen if we sustain our current form, top six maybe."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/3753316.stm