Lee Wants A General Manager

By Mark Heys
May 3 2007

Wanderers manager Sammy Lee has confirmed that he will be looking to appoint a General Manager in the summer to assist him in off the field matters.

Lee wants the successful candidate to handle contract negotiations and such like and states that he already has a person in mind to take on the role whilst he concentrates on matters at the clubs training ground.

Speaking to the Bolton official website, Lee says his decision was based on working with a General Manager during his two year playing stint with the Spanish side Osasuna.

"I was certainly influenced by my time in Spain, Maybe a general manager would be better equipped than I would to deal with off the field matters. For that reason, I put that in place with the full backing of the Chairman. That will hopefully get the best out of the players both on and off the pitch."

"I know the type of character who I want and everybody will know who it is in the fullness of time."

Bolton's only other previous General Manager has come in the shape of club great Nat Lofthouse in the early 1970's when he helped out the likes of Jimmy McIlroy, Jimmy Meadows and Jimmy Armfield.

Lee went on to confirm that Ricky Sbragia, Jimmy Phillips and Gary Speed will assist him as first team coaches with Fred Barber resuming the role of Goalkeeping Coach.