Rangers Eye Bolton Trialist Bernard

By Mark Heys
September 1 2005

French left-back Olivier Bernard could be set for a new start with Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers despite spending the last couple of weeks on trial with Bolton.

The 25-year old is available on a Free Transfer after leaving Southampton at the end of last season and is seen by Gers boss Alex McLeish as an ideal replacement for ex-England U21 international Michael Ball who left Ibrox yesterday for PSV Eindhoven.

Bolton had been monitoring the full back for two weeks but have decided to run the risk of going through until January with just one natural recognised left-back in the shape of Ricardo Gardner.

Bolton have played Danish striker Henrik Pedersen out of position as a full back in the last two games owing to Gardner's recent hamstring injury and a record of two wins from two games states that they are happy for this arrangement to continue.