Allardyce quits as Bolton manager

LONDON, Apr 29 (Reuters) Sam Allardyce resigned as manager of Premier League club Bolton Wanderers with immediate effect today.

''After nearly eight privileged years with Bolton Wanderers, I would like to announce that, after careful consideration and dialogue with my close family and senior officials within the football club, I will be resigning as manager of the club with immediate effect,'' he told the club's Web site www.bwfc.co.uk.

Allardyce, an uncompromising centre back with Bolton in his playing days, took over from Colin Todd in 1999 and won promotion to the Premier League two years later.

After narrowly avoiding relegation in his first two seasons, Bolton became established as a major Premier League team finishing eighth, sixth, and eighth. They are currently fifth and on course for a place in the UEFA Cup.

Allardyce specialised in getting the best out of players who other clubs struggled with and his squads were among the most multi-national in the league.

However, this season he has had a bumpy relationship with the media after the BBC's Panorama programme accused him of accepting illegal payments related to transfers. Allardyce denied ever accepting any such payments.

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