By Mark Heys
July 8 2005

Peter Reid was a man who came into Sam Allardyce's thinking when the Trotters needed to add a new assistant manager to their ranks Former Bolton midfielder Reid had been mentioned as a possible successor to Derby County bound Phil Brown, but Allardyce felt that his old Burnden team-mate was more suited to the role of manager rather than assistant.

"Peter's obviously somebody who came into my thoughts," Allardyce told Sky Sports News.

"But I can see Peter has got a lot to offer as a manager and I think he still sees himself as a manager and not as an assistant or coach. I think there is a massive difference between assistant manager, coach and manager."

''I still think Peter at his tender young age is a manager first and foremost and not an assistant or coach.''

Another ex-Wanderers player Sammy Lee was eventually appointed as Allardyce's right hand man for next season following spells on the coaching staff of the Football Association and Liverpool.