Boss Speaks On Duo Future

By Mark Heys
March 15 2007

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce says that he will hang fire over the futures of Henrik Pedersen and Stelios Giannakopoulos as they near the end of their current contracts.

Pedersen's current deal with Bolton lasts until the summer and Allardyce has hinted that the Danish star could leave due to the injury problems which have plagued him for the last year and a half.

The 31-year old has been with the Wanderers since they won promotion in 2001 and is currently the fourth longest serving player on the clubs books but both player and manager have been left open to what the future may bring.

Speaking of the former Silkeborg man, Allardyce said:

"Henrik has been an ideal person but his problem has been his injuries. Premiership clubs are keeping smaller but expensive squads so injuries are a key issue."

Giannakopoulos on the other hand has been with the Trotters since the summer of 2003 but the form he has shown this season has been a shadow of that of previous seasons.

Allardyce has said that he will be sitting down with the ex-Olympiakos favourite in the middle of next season.

"There will probably not be talks with Stelios until the middle of next season."

So far, only Tal Ben-Haim has rejected the chance to stay with Wanderers. The 24-year old looks likely to move elsewhere on a Bosman transfer when the close season comes around.