By Mark Heys
November 3 2005

Bolton captain Jay-Jay Okocha could be about to quit the club next summer and link up with one of the rich clubs from the Middle East or Qatar. The Nigerian has one more year left to run on his current contract at the Reebok Stadium but a succession of injury problems over the last eighteen months has seen him lose his place as the Wanderers kingpin.


"I don't know if I will finish my career with Bolton and I may be looking to finish it somewhere where they get better weather, I've been getting a lot of offers from Qatar and sometimes it is difficult to reject them at my age." Okocha said

Okocha praises the recent form of fellow midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata and says that the Japanese star and others are making it more difficult to stay in the first team eleven.

"I don't know if I will play and the way the team is playing, it will be difficult for me to get in, We're all here to take the club to another level. If Hide is doing well, he's doing well for all of us."

The 32-year old remembers when he first came to Bolton in the summer of 2002 from Paris Saint Germain. The Trotters had just avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth and in his first season with the club they survived after a final day victory over Middlesbrough.

Since then the club has moved in a positive direction, finishing 8th and 6th respectively over the last two seasons as well as reaching the final of a domestic cup and playing in Europe for the first time.

"I can only be satisfied with what I've achieved. When I arrived three years ago, Bolton were seen as relegation contenders, but we are much better. We've met our first target and it's all about getting to the next level and I hope I can be part of it."


"I don't think I've peaked as a player, I'm behind the other players because I have been injured. I just have to get myself fit again and fight for my place."

Wanderers boss Sam Allardyce agreed that his captain was no longer guaranteed his place and had to work to get in the side. However, Allardyce says the African still has something to offer and could rediscover the form of yesteryear if he stays away from injuries.


"He's no longer guaranteed a place. His loss has not been as great as we expected because we have a few talented players capable of filling in."

"At 32 his best days are far from behind him, It is only about him steering clear of niggling little injuries" said Allardyce