THE jokers in the Reebok pack couldn't resist a mischievous prank in reaction to Gary Speed's sudden promotion in the wake of Sam Allardyce's shock departure.

Trust players. No sooner had they heard that Sammy Lee had elevated the squad's elder statesman to the position of player-coach, than they raided his locker and dumped his clothes and his kit in the corridor.

Fortunately, Speed has seen enough in his long career to take the joke in the spirit it was intended and picked up his stuff, marched straight back into the dressing room and got back to being one of the lads He might have a new dual role but, with Lee urging him to carry on playing as long as he can, nothing much has changed.

"First and foremost I'm a player," he said. "I have a year left on my contract. I'll be assisting Sammy in any way I can but, on the training ground, I'm going to be a player in the sessions. I can't be doing the coaching and playing.

"All I'm concerned about at the moment is playing for Bolton and making sure we get the two wins we want from the two remaining games and getting us into Europe.

"But that was a real ice-breaker when all my stuff was chucked out of the changing room into the corridor. I thought it was quite nice, typical football humour."

Things will never be the same again, of course. Allardyce was such a powerful force at the Reebok for seven-and-a-half years that it was only natural that the players he brought to the club and with whom he enjoyed so much success, would be saddened as well as shocked by his departure.

But 37-year-old Speed has seen it all before in his two decades as a professional, and, despite his respect for Big Sam, as a mate as well as a manager, he is confident Wanderers can continue to progress with Lee at the helm.

"Sammy's got his own ideas, as everyone has, and he'll implement them as time goes on," he said.

"But, the next two games are the most important thing, so we're just trying to keep things as they were.

"These things happen in football. Managers come and go and sometimes you become a better player by working under different managers.

"Sam's a very hard act to follow, nobody knows that more than Sammy. He did wonders for this football club and was a big reason for me coming here.

"And because I'm the most senior player, he was a mate as well. It was very emoional and sad to see him go.

"When you look at what he's done over the last eight years, he's worked miracles. But, at the same time, this is an exciting time for everyone to try and build on that."

One task Speed was given in his new duel role was to study videos of West Ham's recent performances. And, if he didn't before, he now has a clearer picture than ever of a team making a valiant effort to stay in the Premiership.

"They looked dead and buried," he said, "You wouldn't have given them a hope, but it's the nature of the beast that, when your back's against the wall you'll fight to get out of it.

"Their fans will be right up for it because they have to go to Manchester United for their final game and they'll see this as their best chance to get three points.

"But we've got to make sure that doesn't happen. We've got our own agenda."