Bolton Miss Out On Meite & Ono

Last updated : 12 January 2006 By Matt Bottom
Meite says he has turned down an offer to join Bolton, after claiming they told him to snub his country, while a deal for Ono just never materialised after negotiations broke down this week.

Meite said, "I was ready to sign for Bolton, but they said that to sign me I had to miss the African Cup of Nations, and so did Newcastle," he announced.

"I won't sign for a club who will jeopardise my ambition to play for my country. I love my country and the national team is full of quality players.

"If I miss the ACN, the coach might not call me up for the World Cup."

"If a team wants to sign me, they should sign me for my qualities and not my nationality," he insisted.

"This is the most important competition in Africa, and I am very proud to be selected as I think we have a good chance of making the final.

"I do not expect my coach to play me when I am not in good form, so no one should ask me to leave my national team."

Meanwhile, Stockport have snapped up Bolton's academy goalkeeper Chris Howarth on a month's loan.

Caretaker boss Jim Gannon moved for the 19-year-old with Carl Ikeme having returned to Wolves with a fractured finger.