Post by Liam O'Reilly on Aug 25, 2006 11:43:18 GMT
Bolton chairman Phil Gartside does not believe the club record signing of Nicolas Anelka is a gamble.
The 27-year-old Frenchman completed his £8 million switch to The Reebok Stadium on Thursday evening as Sam Allardyce finally got the goalscorer he has been so desperately searching for.
However, many have already questioned whether The Trotters are taking too big a risk by bringing Anelka to the club from Fenerbahce.
The former Manchester City and Arsenal man will be the latest in a long line of players Allardyce will try to work his magic on and Gartside believes the Bolton boss has done his homework on the player.
"Somebody like him, with his qualities, we don't really see that as a gamble," Gartside told Sky Sports News.
"He's 27-years-old, he's scored goals wherever he goes and we don't see that as a gamble at all.
"I met him last night, I was quite impressed with him as a person. He's quiet, he knows what he wants. I don't think Sam will have a problem with him."
The deal has taken some time to conclude but Gartside has insisted that it was the Turkish club, not the player that held up the switch.
"It's been frustrating in some respects, it's not been the player, it's been the club," he continued.
"It's been difficult dealing with the people in Turkey and it's a testament to the efforts put in by a lot of people, including Sam and our club secretary Simon Marland."
Anelka is being tipped to make his debut in Bolton's Premiership game against Charlton at the weekend, but Gartside is not convinced the striker will be on Allardyce's teamsheet on Saturday.
The former Notts County chief is keen to give new players time to bed in to his regime and given The Trotters' good start to the new campaign, the Bolton chairman would not be surprised if Anelka is left out.
"I would doubt it (Anelka will play)," Gartside admitted. "Sam's record is that he likes to meet the player, spend a bit of time with them, make sure they are physically and mentally okay, and settle the player in.
"I wouldn't have thought so, but you never know."
Gartside is also hoping the big name signing of Anelka will finally prove the club's commitment to the cause.
Bolton have finished in the top ten in each of the last three seasons but until now had refused to spend big in the transfer market.
"I hope it demonstrates the club's commitment, not only to current success, but we've also invested another £10 million in the academy this year to really help Sam," he said.
"Sam's made no secret of his own ambition and we want to satisfy his ambitions at Bolton, rather than anywhere else, so this makes a big difference for us.
"We've made no secret we are going to spend money this year.
"The club has been run on good financial grounds in the last few years and we've got the benefit of a wealthy backer as well, who's a fan and has been a fan for 40 years and he wants to see the club progress.
"We've been careful how we've spent money, but that doesn't mean we're not going to spend more."
Meanwhile, Gartside has again reiterated that Sam Allardyce's future is with the club.
The Bolton boss has been linked with almost every job going this summer after missing out on succeeding Sven Goran Eriksson as England coach.
However, Gartside is adamant Allardyce will be going nowhere in the foreseeable future.
He added: "If you knew how many times Sam phones me in a day, never mind a week. The commitment he's got to Bolton has been tremendous.
"He was very disappointed he didn't get what could be argued as the best job in football. I was disappointed for him as nobody tried harder than me to help him realise his own ambition.
"He wants to realise his ambitions at Bolton now and talk of him leaving and not being committed is absolute nonsense."
The 27-year-old Frenchman completed his £8 million switch to The Reebok Stadium on Thursday evening as Sam Allardyce finally got the goalscorer he has been so desperately searching for.
However, many have already questioned whether The Trotters are taking too big a risk by bringing Anelka to the club from Fenerbahce.
The former Manchester City and Arsenal man will be the latest in a long line of players Allardyce will try to work his magic on and Gartside believes the Bolton boss has done his homework on the player.
"Somebody like him, with his qualities, we don't really see that as a gamble," Gartside told Sky Sports News.
"He's 27-years-old, he's scored goals wherever he goes and we don't see that as a gamble at all.
"I met him last night, I was quite impressed with him as a person. He's quiet, he knows what he wants. I don't think Sam will have a problem with him."
The deal has taken some time to conclude but Gartside has insisted that it was the Turkish club, not the player that held up the switch.
"It's been frustrating in some respects, it's not been the player, it's been the club," he continued.
"It's been difficult dealing with the people in Turkey and it's a testament to the efforts put in by a lot of people, including Sam and our club secretary Simon Marland."
Anelka is being tipped to make his debut in Bolton's Premiership game against Charlton at the weekend, but Gartside is not convinced the striker will be on Allardyce's teamsheet on Saturday.
The former Notts County chief is keen to give new players time to bed in to his regime and given The Trotters' good start to the new campaign, the Bolton chairman would not be surprised if Anelka is left out.
"I would doubt it (Anelka will play)," Gartside admitted. "Sam's record is that he likes to meet the player, spend a bit of time with them, make sure they are physically and mentally okay, and settle the player in.
"I wouldn't have thought so, but you never know."
Gartside is also hoping the big name signing of Anelka will finally prove the club's commitment to the cause.
Bolton have finished in the top ten in each of the last three seasons but until now had refused to spend big in the transfer market.
"I hope it demonstrates the club's commitment, not only to current success, but we've also invested another £10 million in the academy this year to really help Sam," he said.
"Sam's made no secret of his own ambition and we want to satisfy his ambitions at Bolton, rather than anywhere else, so this makes a big difference for us.
"We've made no secret we are going to spend money this year.
"The club has been run on good financial grounds in the last few years and we've got the benefit of a wealthy backer as well, who's a fan and has been a fan for 40 years and he wants to see the club progress.
"We've been careful how we've spent money, but that doesn't mean we're not going to spend more."
Meanwhile, Gartside has again reiterated that Sam Allardyce's future is with the club.
The Bolton boss has been linked with almost every job going this summer after missing out on succeeding Sven Goran Eriksson as England coach.
However, Gartside is adamant Allardyce will be going nowhere in the foreseeable future.
He added: "If you knew how many times Sam phones me in a day, never mind a week. The commitment he's got to Bolton has been tremendous.
"He was very disappointed he didn't get what could be argued as the best job in football. I was disappointed for him as nobody tried harder than me to help him realise his own ambition.
"He wants to realise his ambitions at Bolton now and talk of him leaving and not being committed is absolute nonsense."