By Mark Heys
May 15 2007

Israeli international defender Tal Ben-Haim has revealed that he could yet stay with Bolton Wanderers despite previously admitting that he would be leaving the Reebok Stadium when his contract comes to an end this summer.

The 24-year old attracted interest from Chelsea and West Ham United in the last transfer window and the 2006-2007 campaign appeared to be his last in a Bolton shirt.

However, Ben-Haim is now set to sit down and have a re-think on his future after helping the Trotters qualify for European football for the second time in three years.

He says that Wanderers chairman Phil Gartside had a productive chat with him after Sunday's 2-2 draw with Aston Villa and he will now assess his next move during the close season.

"I have finished the contract, everybody knows that. The Chairman caught me after the game and we talked, but it is a long summer - so let's keep it like that for now.

 

"I don't want to talk about it any more because I want a few days now to take a break from everything, to relax and then I can make up my mind."

 

Ben-Haim was happy at the fact that UEFA Cup qualification was assured and says that the players and supporters deserve to be involved in such a competition.

"It was the last game of the season and we wanted to make sure we didn't throw anything away for nothing. We have done really well and deserve to be in Europe. The fans deserve it, so we are happy to have done it for them."

In the summer of 2004 Ben-Haim cost Bolton a mere £250,000 from Maccabi Tel Aviv and has since proved to be a cool and composed defender whether it be as a centre half or full back.