Bolton manager 'may take pay cut'

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce goes into the Carling Cup match against Southampton tonight with the threat of a pay cut apparently hanging over him.

The club’s parent company, Burnden Leisure, are £38m (€54m) in debt and anxious to retain a sound cash footing.

Bolton assistant manager Phil Brown told the BBC's GMR in England: “There are an awful lot of financial constraints going on at this time.

“The manager has been told he might have to take a pay cut, which is quite phenomenal.”

The Bolton management duo have worked wonders on a limited budget and are hoping to strengthen the squad in the transfer window next month.

“We will work hard at it,” said Brown. “If we have to do a bit of wheeling and dealing, one or two going out, one or two coming in, then we will do that. But I don’t think there will be any major coups.”