KEVIN Nolan paid a personal tribute to Sam Allardyce today when he said: "He has taken the club to heights no one could believe."

The goalscoring midfielder has prospered under Allardyce, emerging from the Reebok academy to become an established and respected Premiership performer at the age of 22.

Grateful to the man who gave him his first team debut as a 17-year-old in March 2000, he said: "He's been fantastic for me and fantastic for Bolton Wanderers.

"You can see that with the enthusiasm of the supporters, his players and the man himself.

"Everything has gone forward since he came here.

"We've not taken a step sideways, never mind backwards.

"People are coming here to the Reebok expecting success and that's something they wouldn't have had five years ago."

Allardyce enjoyed a triple celbration today - his 50th birthday, the fifth anniversary of his appointment as Wanderers manager and a new contract agreement that should secure his services for the next five years.

Nolan said: "I'm made up for him. I hope the next five years can be just as successful for him and for us."