Lee to lead Bolton forward

Bolton Wanderers FC have promoted Sammy Lee to manager after the surprise departure of Sam Allardyce yesterday.

England experience
The 48-year-old former Liverpool FC and England midfielder had been with Bolton since June 2005, having first gained coaching experience at Anfield and in the England set-up under Sven-Göran Eriksson. He relinquished his national-team role after last summer's FIFA World Cup to concentrate on duties at the Reebok Stadium as assistant to Allardyce and has long been tipped for a senior appointment.

'Great legacy'
Lee said: "I am very, very excited. Sam has left a great legacy and I would like to continue the good work he has put in place. It took two seconds to decide. I am very proud to be sat here. I have a lot to thank a lot of people for in my football career. I have been very fortunate to work under some very good people, certainly Sam." In stating Lee's contract was open-ended, Bolton chairman Phil Gartside added: "I am looking forward to a different style, a different era. We have got to continue the good work."

Early exit
A winner of two European Champion Clubs' Cup medals and four domestic titles, Lee also played for Queen's Park Rangers FC, CA Osasuna, Southampton FC and Bolton, finishing his playing career at the club he now manages with four appearances in the 1990/91 campaign. Allardyce, who had been in charge for eight years, had intended to leave at the end of the season but brought his departure forward to allow the fifth-place club to focus on the battle for a UEFA Cup place, having reached the Round of 32 in the 2005/06 edition.