BOLTON Wanderers have issued a "hands off" warning to envious rivals who have designs on poaching Sam Allardyce.

The manager has agreed a new five year deal with chairman Phil Gartside, which, it is understood, will leave the door open if England come calling.

The likes of Manchester United, however, would have to pay a massive compensation package if they want his services.

Wanderers are refusing to disclose details of the new deal, which has yet to be signed, but Allardyce is believed to have negotiated a bumber pay rise -- speculation in the tabloids ranges widely from £600,000 a year to £1.5m.

One key clause, however, is believed to recognise the Wanderers boss's status as one of the most sought-after managers in Britain and acknowledging that he could, at some point, be wanted by one of the elite clubs, or even by the Football Association as a possible successor to Sven Goran Eriksson. Compensation in such cases would reflect Allardyce's well-documented ambitions and not be prohibitive.

Other suitors would have to pay top dollar.

Gartside, who was relieved to see Allardyce reject an approach from Newcastle United following Sir Bobby Robson's departure earlier this season and was contemptuously dismissive of more recent reports touting him as a replacement for Kevin Keegan at Manchester City, said: "Sam won't be going anywhere.

"He's got a job he started five years ago and we always said it was a 10 year job.

"He said to me five years ago he wanted to retire from Bolton after 10 years when he was 55.

"I am sure he won't but we are well on the way to reaching that 55. Then it is up to him to do what he wants in football, really."

Allardyce celebrated his 50th birthday today and set out his goal for the second five years of his Reebok reign.

Having already established Wanderers as a Premiership force, his immediate target is to qualify for Europe, a feat no Bolton manager has ever managed.

But his long-term aim is to leave a lasting legacy -- a successful youth programme that will develop top class talent for years to come.

"My first objective is to boost the Academy with much needed investment. This will become arguably my biggest challenge over the next few years.

"I am delighted that I have agreed a new deal with the chairman. The club is improving all the time and it's my responsibility to continue the progress made in the past five years both on and off the field. I want Bolton Wanderers to become a bigger and better outfit and continue to show ambition."

Gartside, who appointed Allardyce in October 1999 a week after becoming chairman of the club, believes Wanderers can go on and push for a place in Europe this season.

"We are not stopping where we are, we are more ambitious than that," he said.

"We want to carry on this success. A sustained run in the Premier League is what we really want. That is the only place to play in the United Kingdom."

"You start off the season hoping to be there the following season. We have 15 points after nine games so we have got a chance.

"People might say we punch above our weight but I don't know if that is true. We are competing with a group of teams that goes from about eighth or ninth down in financial strength.

"If you get to the top of that group you can sneak a European place. That's our ambition now.

"Who knows what could happen if we sustain our current form, top six maybe."

Allardyce has exceeded all expectations since joining Wanderers from Notts County, taking the club from mid-table in Division One to the top four of the Premiership, attracting a host of top class stars such as Jay-Jay Okocha, Ivan Campo, Gary Speed and Youri Djorkaeff.

Gartside added: "I don't think any one of us expected to be quite as successful as we have been over the last five years.

"We had our hopes and our plans but I don't think they included being fourth in the Premier League.

"It is a tremendous thing to be involved in, as a fan, a director or as a chairman. It has been a fantastic roller coaster ride and there is still a long way to go."

Dudley-born Allardyce, an uncompromising center half in his playing days, joined Wanderers from school and was a key figure in the Ian Greaves side that won promotion to the old First Division In 1978. He had a second, less successful spell in the mid-eighties and made no secret of his ambitions to manage Wanderers.

Gartside added: "He is Bolton through and through. His family have grown up in the town. He still lives in the same house when he first moved here. He is very happy.

"Bolton is close to his heart. It is his club really."