PHIL Gartside has reacted with amazement to speculation touting Sam Allardyce as a possible replacement for Kevin Keegan at Manchester City.

The Wanderers chairman said it was inconceivable that his manager would be tempted to quit the Whites for the Blues if Kevin Keegan was axed. Former Southampton manager Gordon Strachan is being tipped to step in if Keegan goes, but there are strong rumours that Allardyce's name is in the frame.

Gartside's response today - following Wanderers' impressive 2-2 draw at Arsenal on Saturday - was resounding.

"Why on earth would Sam Allardyce want to leave Bolton to go to a club with more debt, more problems and a bigger wage bill that would prohibit him from spending any money on signings?" he asked.

"I don't know anything about the City job. What I do know is that Sam's at a club that is in a healthy position, with a good squad and so much going for it.

"As I said when Sam rejected the offer to go to Newcastle, he is still on the first page of rewriting the history of this club and I expect him to be around to write the last chapter."

Allardyce, an active member of the League Managers' Association, has declined to comment on reports linking him with a job currently occupied by a fellow member. But, although sources claiming to be close to Manchester City suggest he would be receptive to an offer, the feeling at the Reebok is that he would give the Blues the same response he gave the Magpies when they came calling: "Thanks, but no thanks."

The chairman added: "I've always said that if a big club came along I wouldn't stand in Sam's way. If Manchester United came in, I'd drive him there myself.

"But I don't think any other club in this area is on the same footing as ourselves.

"Manchester City are not a big enough club, and if they ask to speak to Sam, I wouldn't let them."

Five years into a 10-year contract, the Bolton boss said there was still much that could be achieved with Wanderers and was happy to honour his contract.

Following Saturday's 2-2 draw at Arsenal, he said: "This is the best squad I've had in five years, and we've worked very hard to put it together."