Manager Sam Allardyce is masterminding the northern-based English Premier League side's bid for a first European campaign as they battle for fourth place with Everton and Liverpool.

If Bolton do qualify for European soccer's elite club competition, Allardyce's achievement will be remarkable considering he has spent just six million pounds on players since taking over as manager in 1999.

In his second year in charge at the Reebok Stadium he won promotion to the top flight and in the space of four seasons has transformed Bolton into a Premier League force.

Allardyce's ability to persuade some of football's top names, like Nigeria captain Jay Jay Okocha and former Real Madrid [Images] stalwarts Ivan Campo and Fernando Hierro, to turn out for unheralded Wanderers has created a side almost certain to secure at least UEFA [Images] Cup football next season.

"We have had to look for players that other clubs may not want or are not sure about," Allardyce said. "We have no money for transfer fees so we have had to find players we can work with like we did with striker Kevin Davies."

Davies is now the focal point of Bolton's attack after being released by Southampton two years ago.

COLOURFUL CHARACTER

Allardyce is one of English football's most colourful characters, a man prepared to speak his mind in an age when treading carefully is the norm.

His brash persona fits well with the image he portrayed as a tough English central defender during a career that included a 10-year spell at Bolton, where he started out as a trainee.

But dig a little deeper and you discover that Allardyce is one of the most forward thinking managers in English football.

On his appointment, sealed with a 10-year contract, he insisted on one of the largest backroom teams in England [Images].

His management team now encompasses 17 people with titles ranging from head of sports and science to performance consultant, a first team match analyst and a tai chi teacher.

They have helped restrict injuries and have produced a positive thinking, ultra-fit team for Allardyce to mould.

Just as important, though, is the development of a playing system that sees a five-man midfield quickly turn into a three-man attack -- a formation used by champions-elect Chelsea and Manchester United [Images] to good effect this season.

All of these ideas were thrashed out in the 'war room' at the club's Euxton training ground, where Bolton's meticulous plans for each game are devised.

The room houses a circular table and TV screens to view the latest facts and figures from video analysis firm PorZone -- a system Allardyce uses to analyse his players during games.

"If a player comes in to see me moaning about being dropped I just show him his stats and he's stumped," said Allardyce.

"The players don't view it as a negative tool though. We can show them how to improve their game as well."

DIRECT FOOTBALL

Despite his success Bolton have been criticised by Newcastle United manager Graeme Souness and Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez this season for their robust play and use of direct football.

The condemnation of his team's style by fellow managers has hurt Allardyce at times as he readily admits.

"I am fed up of hearing how we are a long ball team," he said. "When Chelsea beat Bayern Munich (in the Champions League quarter-finals) it was with exactly the same tactics we used.

"But when we use it, people say it's long ball and when they did it, it was a fantastic long pass."

Bolton play at Aston Villa on Saturday in sixth place in the Premier League standings four points behind Everton and the race for fourth spot will probably go down to the final day.

Bolton's visitors on May 15 -- Everton.

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