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Lee quits at struggling Bolton
LONDON (AFP) - English Premier League side Bolton on Wednesday announced that coach Sammy Lee was leaving the club after a poor start to the season.
The Lancashire club have taken just five points from their first nine fames and only goal difference is keeping them off the bottom of the table.
Lee took over from Sam Allardyce as manager at the Reebok Stadium nar the end of last season before Allardyce took over as coach at Newcastle.
General manager Frank McParland has also left the club.
Chairman Phil Gartside told the club's official website, www.bwfc.co.uk: "This has been a difficult decision for all parties but we have agreed that the time is right.
"Sammy has played an important role in the club's recent history. We wish Sammy and Frank well for the future.
"Our efforts will now be to look for a replacement manager and to concentrate on the future."
Lee had been a longtime assistant to the popular Allardyce at Bolton and he has succeeded in taking his side into the group stages of the UEFA Cup but Bolton's league form has been disappointing.
llardyce returned to the club on the opening day of the season as Newcastle cruised to a 3-1 victory.
Defeats at Fulham and Portsmouth followed before a 3-0 home victory over Reading briefly eased the pressure.
However, further losses to Everton, Birmingham and Chelsea, and a home draw with bottom side Derby left Bolton in the relegation zone and Lee's cause was not helped by off-field issues.
Last week veteran midfielder Gary Speed was relieved of his coaching duties at the club having been left out of the squad to face Chelsea.
The Welshman, 38, was handed the role by Lee shortly after he took over but Lee said: "I would like him to focus on his game at this moment in time. I don't want anything to distract him."
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