Players Speak After Sam Exits Bolton

By Mark Heys
April 29 2007

The departure of Sam Allardyce as Bolton Wanderers manager after nearly eight years has come as a great shock to a number of players from the first team squad.

Club captain Kevin Nolan said he was devastated with the news and thanked Allardyce for giving him his first big break in football against Charlton Athletic at the back end of the 1999-2000 season.

Nolan beleives Bolton have to do themselves justice in the remaining two games of the season against West Ham United and Aston Villa and qualify for a second European campaign.

"I'm devastated and completely shocked by the news, Although I saw articles in the papers on Saturday, I hoped it was all just paper talk." said the 24-year old to the official Bolton website earlier this evening.

"I've got nothing but praise and respect for Sam. He's made me the player I am today. He built this club up to the stature it is today and he has created great foundations for the club."

"He was the first manager to take us to the UEFA Cup and we now owe it to him to see out the rest of the season and make sure we get back into Europe. There are very two important games and we will do our utmost to qualify for him.

"As disappointing as the news is, there are only fantastic times ahead for this football club. We've got a terrific and talented squad who want to achieve things

Winger Giannakopoulos, who Allardyce signed from Olympiakos four years ago, says he is speechless at Allardyce's decision to leave the Reebok Stadium and hopes that the team remain focused for the rest of the season.

"I am very shocked and I am speechless, He was not only the manager, he was something much more for this football club. There are only two games remaining and we must focus on those to ensure that we qualify for Europe." said the veteran wide man

Davies, one of Allardyce's biggest success stories during his reign as manager, says he benefitted immensley from the guidance of the former Blackpool and Notts County manager upon arriving from Southampton in the summer of 2003.

"It is a big shock personally, yeah, He is a top-class manager and he has decided it is time to try something different. I was one of a number of players at the club who he's done that for." said the Sheffield-born attacker

"He seems to know how to get the best out of players. I have virtually played every Premiership game in the last four years under him, we've played in Europe and cup finals."

The 29-year old would be disappointed to see his old mentor turn up at a club lower in the league than Wanderers after recent reports linked Allardyce with a move across the North West to Manchester City.

"He's bound to be linked to clubs. We are fifth in the league and it would be disappointing if he went to somebody below us. But he's a very ambitious man and that's his decision at the end of the day." added Davies

Bolton have called a press conference for 11am tommorow and they are expected to name assistant manager Sammy Lee as their new man in charge until the end of the season.