Bolton Wanderers

Bolton Wanderers have joined West Ham United in expressing an interest in Fulham outcast Steed Malbranque.

The French playmaker is poised to quit The Cottagers after rejecting an extension to his contract, which expires next summer.

Chris Coleman has vowed not to pick the 26-year-old again, with Malbranque already having turned down a move to Middlesbrough.

West Ham boss Alan Pardew confirmed on Thursday that he would be keen on signing the former Lyon youngster as he looks to add a touch of flair to his squad.

Premiership rivals Bolton have also been linked with a bid for the midfielder as the club chase a return to European football.

Trotters chairman Phil Gartside revealed that Sam Allardyce spoke to Coleman regarding Malbranque after the 1-1 draw between the two sides on Wednesday.

But Gartside was unwilling to expand on whether Bolton would be putting in a bid for the player prior to the transfer deadline.

"I know Sam's asked about him," Gartside told Sky Sports News.

"He talked to Chris Coleman the other night when we were at Fulham.

"We always talk about people coming in and out, and I wouldn't rule anything out to be honest."

Wanderers have missed out on the signing of Villarreal defender Juan Pablo Sorin. Sam Allardyce revealed that the Argentina...

Bolton Wanderers have missed out on the signing of Villarreal defender Juan Pablo Sorin.

Sam Allardyce revealed that the Argentina international travelled to Bolton to hold talks over a possible move, but sadly a deal could not be reached.

Sorin has also been linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur.

"We were disappointed missing out on the signing of Juan Pablo Sorin," Allardyce told the club's official website.

"He had a look around the club and it is a great shame that we failed to acquire such a fantastic player who has played in the World Cup."

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Bolton Wanderers Supporters' Association

In March 2002, BWSA celebrated its tenth anniversary as the official supporters' association of Bolton Wanderers Football Club. As depicted on the Association's logo, we came into being in 1992, following an initiative by Wanderers fan, Peter Entwistle, who advertised in the Bolton Evening News, inviting all fans interested in forming a supporters' group to meet in the King William pub on Manchester Road, Bolton, opposite Burnden Park.

From the forty or so fans who turned up, a Committee of eleven (with Pete as Chairman) was formed, and BWSA was born. It was decided that the organisation would be non-profit making and that all committee work would be undertaken on a completely voluntary basis. This remains the position today.

The first members' meeting was held in the Executive Suite at Burnden Park on Thursday 7 May 1992. Later that year the Directors of BWFC, satisfied that the Association had proven itself to be organised and responsible, officially recognised BWSA as the Club's supporters' group.

In 1997, shortly after the move from Burnden Park to the Reebok Stadium, BWSA accepted the Club's kind invitation to hold its monthly meetings at the Club's new home. The Reebok has continued to be our venue ever since.

Throughout the past decade, BWSA has continued to flourish. From the founding forty, we now have a membership numbering hundreds. Whilst the majority live locally in and around the town of Bolton, membership has spread across Europe and around the world.

In the year 2000, the Association expanded even further when its invitation to affiliate was accepted, not only by Bolton Wanderers supporters groups in other parts of Britain, but also by groups in Norway, Canada, Australia and the USA. Macau and Hong Kong have also been welcomed recently. All have come on board to become independent, but integral, parts of the official Bolton Wanderers supporters' family. Indeed, requests for affiliated status continue to be received regularly from other places around the world where Wanderers fans find themselves gathered together.

Chairman Phil Gartside
Manager Sam Allardyce

SAM ALLARDYCE

He grew up on Dudley's Wren's Nest estate and was educated at Sycamore Green Primary School and later at Wren's Nest Secondary School. He is best remembered as a player for being part of the Bolton Wanderers side which won the Second Division title in 1978 and secured promotion to the First Division. He also played for Sunderland.
After retiring as a player, Allardyce was named as assistant manager to Brian Talbot at West Bromwich Albion in February 1989 - ironic as he was a Wolverhampton Wanderers supporter, one of Albion's deadliest rivals. His spell at the Hawthorns lasted just two years before he and Talbot were sacked as the club slid towards the Second Division trap door for the first time.

He took up the role of player/manager of Limerick and guided the League of Ireland team to promotion by topping the first division with a number of points to spare in 91/92 in his only season at the club.
Allardyce also managed Blackpool but was later sacked as he failed to guide them to Division One after leading the league all season. Blackpool finished 3rd, missing out on promotion on the last day of the season. Blackpool were later beaten in the Play-Off semi-finals to Bradford after winning 2-0 at home, only to lose 3-0 in the reverse leg. Alladyce was sacked that summer.
In January 1997, Sam Allardyce made his return to football as manager of Division Two basement club Notts County. He arrived too late to save them from relegation, but they won promotion at the first attempt by finishing top of Division Three at the end of the 1997-98 season. Notts County broke several club and national records, winning the title by 19 points and becoming the first post-war side to win promotion by mid-March.
He remained in charge at Meadow Lane until September 1999 when he returned to Bolton Wanderers in Division One and became their new manager.

Bolton lost to Ipswich Town in the 1999-2000 Division One playoffs, but had an eventful run to the FA Cup semi-finals. They went one better in 2000-01 by reaching the playoff final where they beat Preston North End 3-0 to achieve promotion to the Premiership after a three-year absence.
Bolton went top of the Premiership after gaining ten points from the first four games of the 2001-02 campaign and Sam Allardyce was even hopeful that the club could challenge for their first-ever league title. However, the Bolton squad was not strong enough to mount anything like a serious challenge and their safety was not ensured until the penultimate game of the season. In 2002-03 they avoided relegation by just two points and one place.
2003-04 saw Sam Allardyce and his squad firmly establish Bolton as a Premiership club. They finished eighth in the final table and reached the Carling Cup final, losing 2-1 to Middlesbrough who had never won a major trophy before. 2004-05 saw Sam Allardyce and Bolton finish 6th in The Barclay's Premiership, claiming their place in the next season's UEFA Cup, equal on points with 2005's UEFA Champions League victors Liverpool. In the early months of 2005-06, Allardyce once again took Bolton into the top half of the Premiership and also steered them into the knockout rounds of the UEFA Cup.

In early 2006 it was agreed that Sven-Göran Eriksson would leave the England manager's job after the 2006 World Cup, and as a successful manager of English birth, Allardyce was one of the most discussed candidates for the post. Bolton confirmed that they would let him talk to the F.A. if they approached him. However he was never offered the job which was eventually given to Steve McClaren.

He writes a regular column for Four Four Two magazine, on amateur football management, coaching or tactics.