We Overachieved Last Season

Last updated : 22 August 2005 By Matt Bottom

Sam Allardyce has voiced his concerns about the expectancy levels this season and how Bolton can achieve the great heights of their last campaign.

"We and Everton lie in difficult territory, in that most people say we overachieved last season," the Bolton manager said. "For us to repeat that - and I can't speak for David Moyes - will depend on what level of funding we've got.

"The danger for us is the difficulties we face because of the UEFA Cup. It means we could have up to 10 games after European ties when we're struggling to win. Graeme Souness and Steve McClaren tell me that killed them."

Bolton's sixth place last season has earned the club their first venture into European football, yet Allardyce is aware that is no guarantee of continued success or job security.

"You can become a victim of your own success, as George Burley did," Allardyce said. "Who today remembers George for what he did for a club like Ipswich Town? He gave them 23 years of his life, 13 as a player, 10 as manager. He achieved fifth place in his first year in the Premiership and all the plaudits came.

"Then, in the devastation of the season after, it was not Ipswich that suffered. George Burley suffered more than anybody else when the club went into administration.

"He ended up with a miserly pay-off. Now, he's not only gone from Ipswich, he's gone from Derby to Hearts. This is a lad who, in my opinion, should still be a Premiership manager. That's the devastation of what the fallout from the Premiership can bring. For me and my family, as well as the club, that's what I've got to manage.

"Hopefully it will be easier than I think. We play Russian roulette, poker and blackjack at the same here. If you get a hand right in one area, it's not so good in another sometimes. But we have to deal with it."