By Mark Heys
May 15 2006

Sam Allardyce will be thinking towards the long term this summer as he strives to recruit younger players to the Bolton Wanderers squad. Allardyce released veteran campaigners such as Jay-Jay Okocha and Bruno N'Gotty earlier on this month and he has since stressed the need to lower the average age of the Bolton squad which has in previous years gained a reputation for rescuing players at the tail end of their careers such as Youri Djorkaeff and Fernando Hierro.

Now the Bolton manager is looking for players with an extra bit of quality to take the club forward in what will be their sixth consecutive season back in the Premiership.

"We do need a stronger and younger squad going forward, All my focus will be geared to bring in the players we need to improve our standing.This season has shown that we need more quality.An extra two to three percent could have been the difference in getting back into Europe or reaching a major cup final.

"We need to strengthen in all departments. The whole focus in our recruitment strategy is to bring in younger players, who have the experience in playing top flight football and are willing to adapt to the English game quickly."

Allardyce feels that the type of player Bolton are looking at nowadays will cost more because it goes parallel with the expectation levels that have been built up over the past few seasons

"The bottom line on recruiting younger is that players in that range cost a lot more money than we have paid previously.The expectation levels have been raised and we have to match that ambition and desire. It boils down to sustaining our short and long-term future.To achieve that we do need better players.

"I have earmarked a number of quality players and over the next few months the process will begin in bringing my targets to the Club.If I am successful, we will have a very attractive looking squad for next season."