SAM Allardyce – the man who brought Kevin Davies to Bolton Wanderers – paid tribute last night to the player he regarded as a “key figure” in establishing the club as a Premier League force.

The former Reebok manager, who signed Davies in July, 2003, after he had been released by Southampton said the 36-year-old striker changed the dimension of the club and was a major factor in transforming the Whites from relegation fighters to top-eight competitors.

“When he joined us from Southampton I suppose he was having to resurrect his career,” said West Ham United boss Allardyce, who managed Wanderers from October, 1999 to April, 2007 during which time they finished in the top eight of the Premier League in four successive seasons and qualified for Europe twice.

“No one could have envisaged at the time that he would spend 10 years at the club but he has done a great job there.

“He has achieved what he has because he has been the ultimate professional and he can leave knowing he was there as a key figure in a period when the Wanderers enjoyed the best times they’ve ever had.

“What he did for us at that time was fantastic. He changed the domension of the team.

“It was the team as a whole that took us up to that next level, of course, but Davo gave us something we hadn’t had before - he gave us the focus of having a great front man. Even though he was not prolific in his goalscoring, he was a target man we could build off.

“He delivered eight or nine goals a year himself but he created so many more for those around him.

“But outside the club there was a lack of appreciation of his playing style. He was perceived as just being big and strong, but we played to him as a footballer.

“He could head the ball, yes, but his strengths were when you played the ball up to his feet and to his chest. His major strength was that he held the ball up so well and brought other players into the game.”