By Mark Heys
May 1 2007

New Bolton manager Sammy Lee has made his first bootroom appointment since taking over as Wanderers manager yesterday morning..... Former Welsh international and current player Gary Speed has been promoted to the role of Player/First Team Coach alongside other coaches such as Ricky Sbragia and Jimmy Phillips.

Lee was happy to have added the Wanderers most experienced player onto his coaching staff and predicts that the 37-year old will turn out to be a top class coach in years to come.

"Gary is a model professional and has great aspirations to be a top-class coach. He is fully-qualified having recently gained his UEFA A licence. He has great tactical and technical knowledge and is highly-respected by his team-mates" said Lee

Speed was also delighted to have landed his first proper coaching role after a recent stint with the Wrexham U-15 side. He says he is looking forward to becoming part of a new era at Bolton Wanderers.

"I am saddened by the departure of Sam Allardyce - he has created a legacy that everyone is proud of here at Bolton, but everyone knows that life must go on and we have the responsibility of taking Bolton forward."

"I am delighted to be joining a new exciting era for the club under the leadership of Sammy Lee. Sammy has great ambition to take the club forward and I am looking forward to be part of that process" said the Welshman