BOLTON WANDERERS
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Over to you Sammy
7:42am Monday 30th April 2007
Comments (38)SAMMY Lee's name is in the frame to be the next Bolton Wanderers manager in the wake of Sam Allardyce's bombshell decision to quit the Reebok.
The former Liverpool and England midfielder, Allardyce's assistant for the last two seasons, is poised to fulfil his long-held ambition to manage a top-flight club.
No announcement has yet been made but Wanderers have moved swiftly following the confirmation yesterday that Allardyce is standing down with immediate effect. And I understand they are looking no further than the current assistant manager.
A press conference is scheduled to be held at the Reebok today, at which Lee is expected to be unveiled as Wanderers' 17th post-war manager.
And the passionate 48-year-old, who last summer was interviewed for the manager's job at Charlton Athletic followng Alan Curbishley's departure, believes he is ready for top-flight management.
Lee insisted at the weekend that he was staying put and re-iterated his ambition to manage a club in his own right.
"Everybody knows what my aspirations are," he said, referring back to the Charlton job interview.
"I've really enjoyed my time here at Bolton Wanderers Football Club. Sam brought me in and it's a great club to be at, it's a great club to work for, a great bunch of players and great support."
News broke on Saturday morning that Allardyce, the man who guided Wanderers to unprecedented success, had told his bosses of his intention to step down at the end of the season.
The rumours were confirmed officially for the first time at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon in the form of two official statements, one issued by the club on Allardyce's behalf, revealing that the planned departure date had been brought forward.
When Lee stood in for the manager at the post-match press conference following Saturday's 2-2 draw at Chelsea, he said he could shed little light on the affair but said, whatever decision Allardyce had made must be respected.
"He's massive," Lee said in tribute to the man who has guided Wanderers from the lower reaches of the old First Division to the top five of the Premiership and qualified for Europe along the way.
"No one wants to see him go but you have to respect the manager.
"It's his decision and nobody else's. He knows exactly what he's engendered here, he knows exactly what he's formulated and what he's developed here, so you just have to respect whatever decision he makes.
"He is part of a set up with the board, the owner, the chairman and all the players and the fans.
"This is a family club and I just sometimes wish they got the credit they deserve."
Your Say YourThe Bolton News
Durks, Blackburn says...
8:43am Mon 30 Apr 07
Steve Battersby, Oldham says...
8:47am Mon 30 Apr 07
Sam needs a break from Bolton more than Bolton needs a break from him in some ways. However, that wise old football man, Howard Wilkinson, once said that the shelf life of any manager is usually a maximum of 6 years, as after that the players stop listening. Only Ferguson, Wenger and Gradi have held the managerial reins for a longer period than Sam and after 8 years we are two years overdrawn according to Wilkinson's theory.
Doubtless there will be some nonsense added to these pages during the course of today but no-one who understands even the basics of this great game can do anything but accept thet Sam is the club's most successful manager in its' history.
Attractive his teams were not but we are in the results game now and I hope that his successor can at least continue to deliver on that front. I imagine Sammy Lee will be given the chance to succeed in the role and continuity in any organisation can be a good thing if handled correctly.
I am sure there will be departures both on the playing and coaching staff in the coming months but the vital task is now to get the three or four points needed for UEFA Cup qualification. Nothing else matters and whilst the timing of this announcement is the only real mystery to me, it is now an irrelevance. The king is dead, long live the king!
YouriLeGod, Bolton says...
8:58am Mon 30 Apr 07
Steve Battersby is correct above when he says that Sam needs a break from Bolton and more importantly football in general.
I hope it has not affected his health and he comes back wherever fully refreshed.
Jordan, Manchester says...
9:30am Mon 30 Apr 07
YouriLeGod wrote:The guy definitely deserves a break, hes worked tirelessly all his life, most of it for the wanderers.
I can't help wondering how much the 'bungs' scandal took out of Sam. I know he started smoking again and lost alot of sleep. I also notice that on a couple of occasions this year he hasn't travelled down with the team. Steve Battersby is correct above when he says that Sam needs a break from Bolton and more importantly football in general. I hope it has not affected his health and he comes back wherever fully refreshed.
bob, says...
9:54am Mon 30 Apr 07
Rich, Bolton says...
10:50am Mon 30 Apr 07
Flags, scarves, banners in appreciation of Big Sams efforts. Time to have fun at the Reebok and do our bit!
Paul, Farnworth says...
10:56am Mon 30 Apr 07
God help us if we're left with just his boring, negative performances.
doddster28, southport says...
11:15am Mon 30 Apr 07
its on bwfc website
pt, says...
11:25am Mon 30 Apr 07
GRAHAM YATES, says...
11:31am Mon 30 Apr 07
Andy, says...
11:47am Mon 30 Apr 07
burnden boy, says...
11:57am Mon 30 Apr 07
Am not sure about Sammy Lee as the new manager, but am hoping he proves me wrong and takes Bolton up another level by playing attractive winning football. Good luck Sammy Lee
nick, bolton says...
12:08pm Mon 30 Apr 07
Brian, Farnworth says...
12:33pm Mon 30 Apr 07
Fife White, Scotland says...
12:53pm Mon 30 Apr 07
Like many others i have been dissatisfied with performances at times but the league tables over the last six years can't be argued with.
Best of luck to little sam. would like to speedo as no. 2. anybody know yet? great coach and also a far better footballer than allardyce ever was so who knows maybe he can combine discipliine with style? just hope he has the 'magic touch' for the likes of the anelka, diouf's of the present and the future......
still baffled why Sam didn't stay till the ned of the season unless it was a done deal with Sammy Lee and the board.
Keith, Bolton says...
2:02pm Mon 30 Apr 07
Lady Sam, Ireland says...
2:30pm Mon 30 Apr 07
The tabloids will have their day with this - speculating why he's gone and why now - only Big Sam knows and us fans should wish him well.
Little Sam needs to get the team and the fans behind him and secure the UEFA spot that we've been playing for. The team horse "European Dream" won in its last outing, lets see the Wanderers do the same....
Steve, Daubhill says...
4:11pm Mon 30 Apr 07
Gareth, says...
4:46pm Mon 30 Apr 07
Andy, Bolton says...
5:03pm Mon 30 Apr 07
Gareth wrote:I have to agree with this. Not so much about Sammy Lee as he deserves a chance. But I think Gartside should have walked at the same time as Sam. We have made Millions of pounds over the last few years. Where has it gone????? The ticket prices should have been slashed not trimmed. I believe the hotel has drained a fortune out of the clubs funds which should have been spent on players. However, nobody from the club has ever come and told us just what the financial situation is. I want to know what our income has been over the last 5 years and a complete breakdown of non-wage related outgoings. Gartside has not the b*lls to take a financial risk to push us on and this is surely one of the reasons the big man has walked.
Phil Gartside knows the price of everything and the value of nothing! I am absolutely appalled that Gartside has appointed Sammy Lee as Bolton manager! It is a penny-pinching decision with no creativity: typical of one made out of fear by an accountant. Although Sammy Lee is a good coach, he lacks the charisma and presence to replace Allardyce. Lee should have made caretaker until the dust had settled and a proper rational decision could be made. I would have thought Billy Davis the ideal replacement. I cannot believe that a top six Premiership club, bound for Europe, has ended up with Sammy Lee as it's manager! No doubt Gartside thought Lee a cheap replacement, just like the cheap 10% season ticket discount offered to the supporters!
John, Smithills says...
5:08pm Mon 30 Apr 07
If we have to recruit from within, give me Phil Brown any day.
John, Reebok says...
5:30pm Mon 30 Apr 07
Chris, Bolton says...
5:30pm Mon 30 Apr 07
Andy wrote:I thought Gareth was the biggest gobshite on here until I read your post Andy.
Gareth wrote: Phil Gartside knows the price of everything and the value of nothing! I am absolutely appalled that Gartside has appointed Sammy Lee as Bolton manager! It is a penny-pinching decision with no creativity: typical of one made out of fear by an accountant. Although Sammy Lee is a good coach, he lacks the charisma and presence to replace Allardyce. Lee should have made caretaker until the dust had settled and a proper rational decision could be made. I would have thought Billy Davis the ideal replacement. I cannot believe that a top six Premiership club, bound for Europe, has ended up with Sammy Lee as it's manager! No doubt Gartside thought Lee a cheap replacement, just like the cheap 10% season ticket discount offered to the supporters!I have to agree with this. Not so much about Sammy Lee as he deserves a chance. But I think Gartside should have walked at the same time as Sam. We have made Millions of pounds over the last few years. Where has it gone????? The ticket prices should have been slashed not trimmed. I believe the hotel has drained a fortune out of the clubs funds which should have been spent on players. However, nobody from the club has ever come and told us just what the financial situation is. I want to know what our income has been over the last 5 years and a complete breakdown of non-wage related outgoings. Gartside has not the b*lls to take a financial risk to push us on and this is surely one of the reasons the big man has walked.
I have never read as much illinformed crap. If you want to know details of our income have a look at our accounts, they are in the public domain.
The current board's prudent management have saved this club from the very real threat of extinction. We now have a sustainable business without 100% on football income and have been able to increase our budget every year.
How can you want financial risk on the 2 days after Leeds dropped into division 3 you numb ****?
Marina Salthouse, says...
6:09pm Mon 30 Apr 07
I think it must be the club policy that at least 75% of its fans have to be whingers(certainly with regards to the ones who come on here). For all you lot know Sammy Lee may be the best manager this country has ever seen, embarking on his first game along the way to that accolade. At least give him a chance BEFORE you start slagging him off, but "hoping" to be proved wrong. (You'd have nothing to talk about then would you).
As for Big Sam, I haven't always enjoyed watching us play this season, but you can't argue with what he has done overall for this club, and before you lot and Gartside decide to wipe him out of our memories so we can get on with supporting our new manager - which I wholeheartedly do - I think we should have been allowed to give big Sam a huge send off at the Villa match. I also believe that Gartside is to blame for us not being able to do that. Allardyce has said he wanted to see the season out, and with only two weeks to go him leaving now doesn't make sense, other than if the weasly Gartside stamped his foot in an effort to show who's boss, and decided to make him go now.
Tristan, Glos says...
6:11pm Mon 30 Apr 07
daniel, farnworth says...
6:15pm Mon 30 Apr 07
Gareth, says...
6:34pm Mon 30 Apr 07
Thank you for your kind words. I think you will find most Bolton supporters would be at least sceptical or "worried" about Lee's appointment. Also, if Blackburn and Wigan can give a 30% season ticket discount to their more modestly paid supporters, why can't Wanderers? Given the increase in television revenue, neither a well paid manager, or enhanced season ticket value for supporters is going to send Wanderers to the wall.
jon, wales says...
6:42pm Mon 30 Apr 07
mike wilkinson, Charleston S.Carolina says...
6:57pm Mon 30 Apr 07
Sammy Lee has all the pedigree and been tutored by some tremendous personalities including the Big Man.
Phil G is right when highlighting the Bolton backroom set up as far sighted and technically advanced. The basics are in place to go even further, but realisticaly the only aim can be a higher level of achievment in the UEFA and domestic cup competitions. The only way to break into the top four is through huge investment with a bigger support base. My concerns are what will happen when other clubs with the fan base get the right combination of finance and management
-Sunderland Newcastle Man City could leave us behind. We will be seen as a throwback to the "old days" rather than the new kids on the block ruffling feathers as we have over the past few years. I hate to say it but money will talk in the end as it always does. Thanks Big Man for taking us on the journey; best of luck Sammy Lee.
alan, bolton says...
7:37pm Mon 30 Apr 07
Alex D, Leigh says...
10:02pm Mon 30 Apr 07
Chris, Radcliffe says...
12:04am Tue 1 May 07
But it is right to say what a fantastic job he has done in the last 8 years and the old debate about winning football v entertainment may be re-visited by September. Will be interesting to see how many fans start coming back because of the lack of football on display. This may only change due to new personnel rather than just tactics.
Lee knows his stuff and has coached at a good level and is well respected it appears.
Looks like Gartside has come out fighting today by saying Anelka and Diouf came to Bolton because of Lee and that Lee could do a better job than Big Sam.
Doesn't look to me like an amicable parting (between Sam and Phil).
Deja vu as in when Dowie left Palace to go to Charlton, Gartside paraphrasing Simon Jordan about him taking another job.
I'm sure Allardyce will be managing another team come 1st July.
Looking forward to denying West Ham a win which will surely send them down (again).
Oh and finally, Aston Villa, Cat A game, ridiculous! Obviously not trying too hard to fill the ground for the final game.
Scott Horan, BwfcOnline.Co.Uk, Bolton says...
12:15am Tue 1 May 07
brian, bolton says...
5:39pm Tue 1 May 07
geoff, Bolton says...
6:01pm Tue 1 May 07
Brownie, Bolton says...
11:43am Wed 2 May 07
Good-luck.
Brownie, Bolton says...
11:48am Wed 2 May 07
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Mark, Bolton says...
8:16am Mon 30 Apr 07