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SAM IS JUST TOO BIG FOR BOLTON NOW...

Sam Allardyce wants to move on to bigger things

Monday April 30,2007

By Richard Tanner

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SAM ALLARDYCE quit his beloved Bolton because he felt he had taken them as far as he could and wants the chance of reviving a bigger club.

He will be offered the Manchester City post if Ray Ranson’s takeover bid is successful while Newcastle, who he turned down three years ago, could come back in for him after an indifferent campaign under Glenn Roeder.

Either challenge would appeal to Allardyce, 52, who knows if he does not move on now the chance of a top job may never come along again.

If he can turn either City or Newcastle into regular challengers to the Premiership’s established big four it would also improve his chances of landing the England job he was so disappointed to miss out on last year. Allardyce was planning to announce his decision at the end of the season.

But when rumours of his plans surfaced on Saturday morning he had little choice but to come clean.

While Bolton will always be his “spiritual home”, I understand he is frustrated that despite his success their average gate is only 23,000 – less than half of the average at St James’ Park and nearly 17,000 below City’s despite their woeful home campaign under Stuart Pearce.

Iain Dowie, Aidy Boothroyd and current Bolton No 2 Sammy Lee emerged as early contenders to replace Allardcye, who guided Bolton from a mid-table Championship side to the brink of clinching fifth spot in the Premiership and UEFA Cup qualification on a limited budget.

In a statement last night he admitted leaving a club he has guided to one of the most successful eras in their
history was the hardest decision of his life.

“After nearly eight privileged years with Bolton I would like to announce that, after careful consideration and dialogue with my close family and senior officials within the club, I will be resigning as manager with immediate effect.

It was mutually decided that I step down now rather than at the end of the season, to give my successor the ideal opportunity to experience the preparation and build-up of matchday in readiness of next season.

“The decision to leave the club, which has been my spiritual home for over 18 years, as both player and manager, is
one of the hardest I have had to make in my life.

“However, after guiding the team into a position where the club is on the verge of qualification for European football for the second time in three years I feel it is the right moment to step down and welcome a new exciting era for the club under different leadership.”

Chairman Phil Gartside will hold a press conference at the Reebok Stadium today to discuss where the club turns next. Allardcye has been under a cloud since a BBC Panorama investigation linked him to a bungs scandal, though he refuted the accusations made in the programme.

Panorama’s ‘Undercover: Football’s Dirty Secrets’ claimed Allardyce and his son Craig, formerly a football agent, were given illegal payments to facilitate player transfers.

Gartside said: “I would like to thank Sam for his enormous contribution to Bolton Wanderers, both as a player, but more importantly as a manager.

“He has given his reasons for wanting to leave the club at this time, which are private and we respect that privacy. I would like to wish Sam and his family every success in the future.”

Striker Kevin Davies reckons Allardyce will soon be back in football, saying: “He’s bound to be linked to clubs. He’s a very ambitious man.”

But Bolton will trigger a £1million compensation clause in Allardyce’s contract if and when he joins a new club.