Sammy Hopes To Continue Allardyce Legacy

By Mark Heys
April 30 2007

New Bolton Wanderers manager Sammy Lee has promised to continue the success which Sam Allardyce built up during his eight years in office.

A delighted Lee succeeded Allardyce as Wanderers 17th post war manager earlier today and he says it took just a second to take up the offer which chairman Phil Gartside presented to him.

The 48-year old Liverpudlian had assisted Bolton for the last two seasons but the opportunity of taking on his first full time managerial role seemed too good to turn down.

"I'm delighted about the prospect of being Bolton manager. It is a great legacy that Sam has left and it is my job now to carry that forward. It took me one second to decide to accept the job after it was offered to me." said the former Liverpool midfielder in todays press call

"I am very proud to be sat here in front of everybody as the new manager of Bolton Wanderers.

Lee also paid a glowing tribute to departing former boss Allardyce, stating that he had learned so much alongside him in his two years as the Wanderers assistant manager.

"The education I've gained from working with Sam Allardyce has been immense. I have to continue what Sam has started, that's first and foremost, and then re-evaluate it after that."

"Little Sammy" is calling for the club to keep their stability and aims to get the club back into European football via the league in the two Premiership games that remain.

"It certainly is a healthy position that Bolton are in, we're now contesting for a place in Europe. The main thing for us is to keep the players stable and to make sure that we get the result we firmly feel deserve after all the hard work we've done this season."