Speedo Relinquishes Coaching Role

Coaching Role At An End
By Mark Heys
October 11 2007

Gary Speed has relinquished his role on the Bolton Wanderers coaching staff but the former Welsh international will continue to serve the club as a player until the end of his contract which expires next summer.

Reports from the Daily Mail newspaper claimed the 38-year old was unhappy about being dropped for last weekend's game against Chelsea putting his future at the club in doubt but this latest move has been done for the "benefit of the team".

Speed confirmed that his unhappy six month spell on the coaching side of things is now at an end but there appears to be conflicting reports as to how the players coaching role ended with manager Sammy Lee saying he relieived Speed of his duties.

"It was my decision, I decided it wasn't working out. I want to concentrate totally on my football" said Speed to the Bolton News

Lee on the other hand said it was he who made the decision in order for the player to focus on his game ahead of an important month which sees the club competing in three different competitions.

"I relieved him of his coaching duties because I want him to focus on his game, I don't want anything to distract him from his game, if anything is distracting him. At this present time it's important that all of us focus on what we are trying to do."

Whoever made the decision is now irrelavant because Bolton will need players of Speed's experience if they are to pull themselves out of the relegation mire, a position they have not found themselves in since 2003.