By Mark Heys
January 8 2006

Chairman Phil Gartside has warned rival clubs that they will not be given permission to speak to Sam Allardyce if they make an approach for his services. The Bolton boss has been heavily mentioned as an eventual successor to the Newcastle United manager Graeme Souness in recent days but Gartside revealed that any interest in Allardyce would be met with a firm refusal.

"If Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd wanted to talk to Sam he would be denied permission to do so. The only way I'd consider letting Sam leave is if the England job came up." Gartside told the Mail on Sunday.

Allardyce was also linked with the Toon Army hotseat following Bobby Robson's departure twelve months ago but in the end he chose to stay with the club where he made his name both as a player and manager.

Gartside explained that the ball was in the court of Allardyce back then but states that he will not be allowed to leave the Trotters now should a similar proposal be put forward to him - by Newcastle or anyone else.

"Now the time isn't right and Sam is too important to the club. I've explained my thinking to him and told him that he wouldn't be allowed to speak to Newcastle at the moment under any circumstances. He accepted my decision and is fully committed to Bolton."

Allardyce has previously stated his displeasure at the amount of speculation being banded around in certain quarters of the media but the fact that he still has a large contract at Bolton would mean that any interested club would have to pay out a considerable sum if they are to stand any chance of luring him away from the club that is so close to his heart.