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Old pals act for Davis

SEAN Davis has revealed how his former team-mates convinced him to move to Bolton.

The 29-year-old midfielder has joined Wanderers on a three-year deal after becoming a free agent at Portsmouth.

Bolton sign Davis

BOLTON manager Gary Megson has signed Sean Davis on a free transfer - six months after Portsmouth rejected a £3.5million bid for the midfielder.

Megson has beaten a number of clubs for the 29-year-old's services after his contract at Fratton Park expired.

Bolton on Gudjohnsen alert

BOLTON could be alerted to Eidur Gudjohnsen's assumption that a return to the Premier League is 'almost inevitable.'

The former Wanderers favourite collected a Champions League winners' medal with Barcelona in Rome last month. But the Icelandic international has regularly been frozen out of the Barca starting line-up.

Davies boost for Bolton

SAM Allardyce appears to have given up his search to sign Bolton captain and last season's leading scorer Kevin Davies.

The former Wanderers boss admitted Blackburn chairman John Williams enquired whether Davies was for sale.

Bolton set for Doyle bid

BOLTON are expected to make a formal bid for Reading striker Kevin Doyle before the end of the week.

Newly-promoted Wolves are already believed to have lodged a bid for the 26-year-old Republic of Ireland frontman which matches his £6.5m get-out clause.

Bolton's Robinson bid stalls

BOLTON'S bid to sign defender Paul Robinson from West Brom appears to have stalled as the two clubs are well apart in their valuation of the player.

Wanderers are believed to have made a £500,000 bid for the 30-year-old left-back but the Baggies want double that.

Bolton to fend off Davies bids

BOLTON have no intention of cashing in on captain Kevin Davies and will robustly reject any bids for the striker.

Last season the 32-year-old enjoyed his best Premier League campaign, scoring 12 goals, and former Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce is reported to be ready to make a £5m bid to take him back to Blackburn.

Bowyer link is a puzzler for Bolton

BOLTON have been linked with a surprise move for West Ham midfielder Lee Bowyer.

But with Sean Davis expected to move to the Reebok Stadium on a free transfer next month, it seems unlikely Gary Megson also wants ex-Leeds ace Bowyer.

Bolton in £13m Veloso battle

BOLTON won't be held to ransom over a possible move for Sporting Lisbon star Miguel Veloso.

Wanderers remain interested in the 23-year-old midfielder - but Gary Megson is adamant that he won't blow his entire summer transfer budget on the Portuguese international.

Bolton face Black Cats opener

BOLTON open up their 2009/2010 Premier League campaign against Sunderland at the Reebok Stadium.

That game is followed by trips to Arsenal and Hull before a home clash with Liverpool concludes their August schedule.

Bolton still tracking Veloso

BOLTON'S protracted hunt to sign Portuguese midfielder Miguel Veloso appears still on the cards.

Meanwhile, Bolton midfielder Blerim Dzemaili has joined Torino for an undisclosed fee following a loan spell with the Italian side.

Taylor backing Elmander

MISFIRING Bolton striker Johan Elmander will prove his critics wrong, reckons team-mate Matty Taylor.

The £8.2m record signing from Toulouse scored only five goals in his first season but boss Gary Megson refused to drag the Sweden striker out of the firing line.

Bolton: Season player ratings

M.E.N. Sport's Bolton reporter gives his verdict on the Bolton players performance in the 2008/2009 season.

Pick Greater Manchester's player of the season

TODAY you, the fans, have the chance to select Greater Manchester's player of the season - a competition organised in association with sponsors flybe.com.

Muamba makes Bolton pledge

FABRICE Muamba admits Bolton fans have still to see the best of him.

And the former Arsenal youngster agrees criticism of his performances last season was justified.

Bolton run rule over Fernandes

GARY Megson will soon have enough midfield targets to fill an entire starting XI.

But the Bolton boss is biding his time before adding to his squad. City's Swiss international, Gelson Fernandes, is the latest name on Megson's wish-list.

Megon eyes Huddlestone

TOTTENHAM midfielder Tom Huddlestone is a reported target for Bolton boss Gary Megson. Megson is in the market to strengthen the team's engineroom and Huddleston hasn't been a regular starter under Harry Redknapp at White Hart Lane.

Aston Villa and Fulham have also been linked with the 22-year-old former Derby favourite, who underwent knee surgery on the penultimate weekend of last season.

Vaz Te relishing second chance

BOLTON'S forgotten striker Ricardo Vaz Te could save manager Gary Megson a sizeable transfer fee next season.

The former Portuguese Under-21 international made just two substitute appearances last term.

But a long-standing knee injury ruled him out for the last seven months.

Ferdinand out of England qualifier

UNITED defender Rio Ferdinand has pulled out of England's World Cup qualifier against Kazakhstan and has been replaced by Bolton's Gary Cahill.

Ferdinand’s calf injury, a complaint he was understood to be carrying before Manchester United’s Champions League final, means he will miss the trip to Almaty but could return for the clash against Andorra next week after the problem is assessed.

Megson goes with the flow

GARY Megson has called on football's law makers to take a leaf out of rugby league's rule book.

The Bolton boss wants the Premier League to follow in Super League's footsteps by allowing play to continue while physios treat on-field injuries.

Scholes a no go for Bolton

PAUL Scholes won't be ending his Premier League career with Bolton.

Wanderers had been linked with an audacious swoop for the United midfield favourite. But MEN Sport understands such reports are well wide of the mark.

Megson fires Bolton warning

BOLTON boss Gary Megson has warned that unless he can bring in enough reinforcements to his squad over the summer the Trotters risk relegation from the top flight.

Megson is confident he can get the players he needs. However, after using just 18 in a season that ended with a disappointing 1-0 defeat at City, Megson offered a stark assessment of the future.

Megson set for Robinson swoop

GARY Megson is poised to offer Paul Robinson a quick return to the Premier League.

West Brom's hard man defender, sent-off against United last January, wants to quit the relegated Baggies.

City 1 Bolton 0

BOLTON closed out their 2008/2009 Premier League season with defeat against City at Eastlands.

The Trotters fell behind early on when Felipe Caicedo scored from close range and the visitors could not find the leveller.

We're not scared of City

BOLTON assistant Chris Evans insists they don't have an inferiority complex when it comes to City.

Wanderers will attempt to complete a Premier League double over the Blues at Eastlands on Sunday.

Bolton slash ticket prices

BOLTON have followed local rivals Blackburn in slashing season ticket prices for next season.

The cost of an adult season ticket has been cut by 11 per cent, tickets for under-21s will see a 39 per cent reduction while those for over-65s will benefit from a saving of 22 per cent.

FC amused at 'bizarre' Scudamore

FC UNITED have laughed off a claim by Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore that it is more expensive to watch them than Bolton.

Scudamore made the bizarre claims in a radio interview on Wednesday night.

Elmander has point to prove

JOHAN Elmander has one more chance against City on Sunday to score his first goal of 2009.

The Swedish international has netted just five times since his £8m summer move from Toulouse and last found the target in a 4-2 defeat by Aston Villa on December 13.

Megson unhappy at draw

BOLTON boss Gary Megson was disappointed with his side, despite gaining the point needed to make certain of Premier League survival.

Megson feels his team have eased up prematurely before the end of the season and said: "I am happy we are now mathematically safe and we are in this division, it has been a while coming.

Bolton 1 Hull 1

BOLTON'S third successive draw guaranteed Premier League status next season but Hull City's fight to avoid the drop goes to the final game of the season.

The Tigers meet champions United at the KC Stadium next Sunday but are likely to face a much weakened Reds line-up. There are no such worries though for Wanderers when they bring the curtain down on their campaign at Eastlands.

Preview: Bolton v Hull

KEVIN Davies plans to make it an unhappy return for ex- Bolton assistant Phil Brown at the Reebok.

Wanderers can virtually condemn Hull to a quick return to the Championship by winning for the first time in six games.

Bolton eye Biglia move

BOLTON are reportedly keeping tabs on Argentinian star Lucas Biglia as Gary Megson looks to rebuild his squad for next season.

Midfielder Biglia, who has an Italian passport, plays his football in the Belgian league with Anderlecht.

Bolton to reward Cahill

GARY Megson has paid Gary Cahill the ultimate compliment as the club opens talks with the Bolton centre-half about a new contract.

Cahill still has two years left on his current deal but because of his form this season, the former Aston Villa defender is attracting interest from Arsenal.

Gartside looks for league balance

BOLTON chairman Phil Gartside remains committed to helping bridge football's great divide.

Culture Secretary and Everton fan Andy Burnham wants England's top four side to share their Champions League winnings with their Premier League rivals.

Bolton 0 Sunderland 0

SELDOM can a team have been jeered off after all but securing their Premier League status for another season.

But that was Bolton's fate after a dreadful goalless draw against a side that could still be lining up in the Championship next term.

Preview: Bolton v Sunderland

BOLTON hastened Roy Keane's departure as Sunderland manager and could now do the same to his Black Cats successor, Ricky Sbragia.

Keane's last match in charge on Wearside saw Wanderers romp to a 4-1 win last November.

Jussi happy to shut up shop

BOLTON keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen has almost as many bookings as clean sheets this season so last Saturday's draw at Wigan put a smile back on his face.

The big Finn produced some fine first-half saves to ensure Wanderers shut out the opposition for only the sixth time in 37 league and cup games.

We're looking up - Davies

PREMIER League safety might not yet be mathematically secured but Kevin Davies is already targeting a return to Europe.

Bolton are all but certain to avoid the drop this season, sitting eight points clear of the relegation zone with three games to play.

Davies calls for Trotters signings

BOLTON captain Kevin Davies believes manager Gary Megson needs to increase competition for places within the squad by signing some quality players in the summer.

Wanderers have operated this season with the smallest playing staff in the Barclays Premier League.

Wigan 0 Bolton 0

GOALKEEPER Jussi Jaaskelainen earned Bolton a point in the goalless draw against Wigan at the JJB Stadium with three fine first-half saves.

The Finn twice denied Hugo Rodallega, once with the aid of a post, and also tipped over Mido's long-range effort. However, the crossbar came to Wigan's rescue before the interval when Bolton defender Gary Cahill's deflected strike rebounded back of the woodwork.

Preview: Wigan v Bolton

BOLTON boss Gary Megson doesn't expect any favours from Wigan in 'the other Greater Manchester derby' at the JJB Stadium.

The Latics are already safe from the drop while Wanderers are one of eight teams who could leave the Premier League later this month.

Cahill tipped for greatness

BOLTON manager Gary Megson is convinced that defender Gary Cahill is destined to win full international honours with England.

Cahill, 23, has proved an outstanding success since Megson persuaded the Trotters hierarchy to pay Aston Villa £5million for his services in January 2008.

Megson wants revenge

GARY Megson will demand Bolton atone for last season's trip to Wigan when they visit the JJB Stadium on Saturday.

A win will practically guarantee Wanderers' Premier League survival, but Megson says his players also have the incentive of making amends for a 1-0 defeat last March.

Megson's spot of frustration

GARY Megson has resisted the temptation to confront referees' chief Keith Hackett about the lack of penalties awarded to Bolton.

But the Wanderers' boss believes he would have a strong case to back-up his claim, include footage of last Saturday's `injustice' against Aston Villa.

Cahill's just Fab insists O'Brien

ANDY O'Brien has tipped defensive partner Gary Cahill for international honours.

And the veteran Irishman would love to partner the young English hopeful in Bolton's back four for the remainder of the season. The Wanderers duo dominated Aston Villa heavyweights, Emile Heskey and John Carew in last Saturday's 1-1 draw at the Reebok.

Bolton 1 Aston Villa 1

TAMIR Cohen celebrated his first Premier League start for more than a year by inching Bolton towards top flight safety.

The Israeli international, preferred in midfield to young Chris Basham, powered in only his second goal for the club after 59 minutes. That cancelled out England international Ashley Young's only worthwhile contribution just before the interval.

Preview: Bolton v Aston Villa

GARY Megson will be anxiously looking over his shoulder until Bolton are mathematically safe from relegation.

The Wanderers chief is wary of a club emulating Bolton's end of season charge 12 months ago. That's why he wants three points from the home game with Aston Villa.

Megson warns old Villans

GARY Megson fears his former Villa players could try too hard to make an impact when Martin O'Neill's faltering side visit the Reebok on Saturday.

Gary Cahill, Gavin McCann and Jlloyd Samuel spent varying lengths of time at Villa Park.

Bolton chief launches plan

BOLTON will be guaranteed Premier League status forever if Wanderers chairman Phil Gartside gets his way.

Gartside will present a plan to his fellow chairmen on Thursday to introduce a new Premier League system of two, 18-strong divisions.

Portsmouth 1 Bolton 0

Matt Taylor didn't enjoy a happy return to Fratton Park as Bolton again failed to find a cure for their travel sickness.

Former Pompey favourite Taylor was keen to impress on his first visit back since moving north in January 2008.

Preview: Portsmouth v Bolton

MATTY Taylor's return to Fratton Park clearly means a lot to the Bolton midfielder.

Indeed, the former Portsmouth star wanted to captain Wanderers against his old club. However, his request to Bolton boss Gary Megson was turned down.

Megson urges penalty pointers

GARY Megson wants soccer bosses to tighten up the rules regarding penalties after Wanderers were on the receiving end of a soft decision at Chelsea last Saturday.

Northants referee Peter Walton adjudged Gretar Steinsson had handled a Frank Lampard cross and the England midfielder scored from the spot.

Megson: Johan's no flop

BOLTON boss Gary Megson has handed goal-shy striker Johan Elmander a vote of confidence.

Wanderers' record signing hasn't scored since December 13 and has only netted five in total from 25 appearances since his £10m summer move from Toulouse.