Sam Allardyce shockingly stepped down as Bolton manager yesterday, following speculation and rumours in the press.
Allardyce has today said that he knew it was time to move on, but that he wanted to stay until the end of the season.
“It was a very difficult decision, of course, and one which was come to with an amicable agreement between me and Phil (Gartside, Bolton chairman),” Allardyce said. “I would have liked it to be at the end of the season, but unfortunately some of these things don’t stay private. Two weeks, or two-and-a-half weeks, it’s been since it was discussed – perhaps that’s a long time anyway. It wasn’t to be. With all the speculation that’s carried on, we decided yesterday was a good time to get all the press out of the way, and let the team and Sammy (Lee) focus on the last two games without any more speculation that’s flying around.”