By Paul Fletcher

Nolan has played his entire career under Allardyce

Club captain Kevin Nolan has pledged his future to Sammy Lee's Bolton - and revealed that Sam Allardyce told him he does not have another job lined up.

Allardyce resigned on Sunday, prompting speculation that Nolan would follow him out of the Reebok Stadium.

But after the appointment of Lee on Monday, Nolan told BBC Sport: "I'm looking forward to being part of the next stage at Bolton."

And he added: "I know Sam Allardyce does not have a job in the pipeline."

Interview: Bolton captain Kevin Nolan

It had been claimed on Monday that Allardyce would soon be in charge of another Premiership club - with Manchester City and Newcastle linked with the 52-year-old.

I was gutted when I heard Sam Allardyce was leaving - I did not know what to say Kevin Nolan

But in a phone call to Nolan on Sunday, Allardyce told his former skipper he was planning on taking some time out from the game.

"Sam Allardyce gave me a call before it was announced he was leaving to say thank you and because as skipper he wanted me to know," added Nolan.

"It has been an unbelievable shock - I was gutted when I heard the news.

"I did not know what to say. It has not sunk in and probably won't for the next week or so.

606: DEBATE Is Lee the right man to take Bolton forward?

"I know he is going away for a while now. He is going to enjoy some time with his family.

"He said he wanted to take some time out and have a good summer. Come next season he might have something."

Nolan, who signed a new contract in March to keep him at the club until 2011, has played his entire professional career under Allardyce as Bolton have become an established force in the Premiership.

Bolton are currently fifth in the table and close to securing a Uefa Cup place for the second time in three seasons.

Asked whether former assistant boss Lee would be able to continue the success at the club, Nolan said: "That is the question and what he has to prove to everyone.

"He has a fantastic opportunity at a big club like us.

"Hopefully he can take off where Sam left off and keep us going forward and I'm sure he can do that. He will have my full support and I think he will be fantastic for the club."

And he said that he expected the new manager to emerge as his own man.

"He will make his changes," added Nolan.

"He is very open minded and can take a lot of things on board.

"I have not seen him get nasty too many times but I'm sure I will see that now quite often because that is what managers have to do sometimes."

Lee will take his first training session as manager of Bolton on Tuesday.

"It will be really strange," said skipper Nolan.

"A lot of players do not have one manager for eight years but we have successful since Sam Allardyce came in and I have been a part of that.

"But I'm looking forward to a fresh start for us all."