SHEFFIELD United, Wigan Athletic and Bristol City wanted him and Birmingham City offered him a chance to stay at St Andrew's. But Simon Charlton wanted Bolton Wanderers.

"I wanted a fresh challenge," says the straight-talking Yorkshireman, and when I saw the set-up at Bolton, the place and the players, this was where I wanted to play.

"I'd come across Phil Brown when I played for Huddersfield and he was playing for Bolton and I'd heard a lot of good things about Sam Allardyce. People have nothing but good to say about him.

"But I've never actually played at the Reebok and that's something I'm really looking forward to."

Charlton's arrival on a free transfer was not one of the most headline hitting deals of the summer but the 28-year-old left back has the talent, experience and the enthusiasm to make a big impact on Wanderers' fortunes next season.

It certainly sounds a marriage made in heaven.

"Whenever I have seen Bolton in the past, including last season, they have always knocked the ball around and played football," he says. "And that's just what I want. We'd stopped playing football at Birmingham.

"Allan Johnston played with us but he never got the ball. When he came here to Bolton he looked like a world beater.

"I like to pride myself in being a footballer rather than a lumper. I can't play that way. I like to get the ball from the goalkeeper and start things off from the back.

"I'll get forward, get crosses in and, basically, get the left side causing havoc. Whenever I get a chance to get forward I'll take it - I'm sure the other defenders here will be able to take care of things when I make the runs.

"In any case, I don't think Sam's brought me here to sit back in a defensive role."

Charlton appeared to be one of the fixtures and fittings at Huddersfield, where he spent three seasons as a first team regular, until a move to Southampton gave him a chance to show his class in the top flight.

More than 100 Premiership appearances enhanced his reputation and regular football at Birmingham made him one of the most sought-after free transfers once he had rejected a new contract with the Blues.

The prospect of a return to the Premiership persuaded him that the Reebok should be his next stop.

"I had a number of offers," he confirmed, "I spoke to Neil Warnock at Sheffield United, Wigan and with knowing Danny Wilson and Frank Barlow very well, Bristol City.

"There were others too but I wouldn't have gone to a club that I didn't think had a chance of getting up into the Premiership.

"Birmingham went ever so close in the last couple of years but I really did feel I needed a change."

Despite the fact that Wanderers have an abundance of left backs - skipper Mike Whitlow, the experienced Jimmy Phillips and the versatile Robbie Elliott all played there last season - Charlton fully expects to get the nod when Allardyce names his side for the game against Burnley.

"I was told I'd be coming here to start and I'm expecting to start," he said, categorically. "I know that doesn't give me the god-given right but I'll be working damned hard to make sure I'm in that team and in to stay."

Charlton revealed that it was the stringency of the medical that delayed the rubber-stamping of his transfer.

Like Michael Ricketts, who joined him in the move up from the Midlands, he had to wait what seemed an age before the deal was signed and sealed. "It was the most stringent medical I've ever had in my career," he confirmed, "and that includes being in the Premiership with Southampton.

"But I suppose it's what clubs do to take care of themselves these day"

"I was told I'd be coming here to start and I'm expecting to start, I know that doesn't give me the god-given right but I'll be working damned hard to make sure I'm in that team and in to stay." I wouldn't have gone to a club that I didn't think had a chance of getting up into the Premiership I've never played at the Reebok and that's something I'm looking forward to