Magpies link angers Allardyce

Bolton chairman Phil Gartside has reiterated his hands-off warning to Newcastle over manager Sam Allardyce.

Allardyce has been touted as a possible successor to under-fire Magpies boss Graeme Souness - but has distanced himself from such rumours.

And Gartside told the Mail on Sunday: "If Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd wanted to talk to Sam he would be denied permission to do so.

"The only way I'd consider letting Sam leave is if the England job came up."

Sam accepted my decision and is fully committed to Bolton Bolton chairman Phil Gartside

Newcastle were interested in Allardyce before appointing Souness as Sir Bobby Robson's successor in 2004 but he turned them down.

And Gartside insisted that should a similar situation arise, he would take a different approach.

"I went down that road last time and allowed them to talk but nothing came of it," he said.

"Now the time isn't right and Sam is too important to the club.

"I've explained my thinking to him and told him that he wouldn't be allowed to speak to Newcastle at the moment under any circumstances.

"He accepted my decision and is fully committed to Bolton."