PHIL Gartside dismissed speculation linking Sam Allardyce with the manager's job at Newcastle on Tuesday, confidently predicting that the man he appointed five years ago was staying at the Reebok to carry on the good work.

"Sam's fully committed to writing a piece of history for Bolton Wanderers," the chairman said in a definitive assurance to Wanderers fans.

"He's not finished the first page yet and he's going to stay to write the last chapter.

"We've got something special here.

"I have a special relationship with Sam and I am sure he will want to finish the job here and create a legacy."

Sources on Tyneside claimed Allardyce was a leading contender for the job of succeeding Sir Bobby Robson, who was sacked on Monday, with one national newspaper claiming he was the Magpies' first choice.

But the chairman, who has forged a special relationship with the manager he installed in October 1999 and who is only halfway through a 10-year contract, is confident that Newcastle are looking elsewhere for their 19th post-war manager.

Wanderers were a struggling Division One club when Gartside, himself newly-promoted to the chairmanship, asked the former Burnden Park favourite to turn the team's fortunes round.

Under Allardyce's management Wanderers bounced back from the body blow of three semi-final defeats in his first season to win a place in the Premiership, since when they have gone from strength to strength.

Not surprisingly, Allardyce's name is linked with every so-called "big job" that comes along and he was listed, along with a host of potential candidates, within minutes of Robson's departure from St James' Park.

But the speculation was so varied -- Gerard Houllier, Steve Bruce and David O'Leary were also being "hotly" tipped -- that it supported the view of sources on Tyneside that no one outside the inner sanctum at St James' Park knows who the next manager will be.

It is understood Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd, who was meeting with his directors today to discuss the situation, is considering a range of options, with Alan Shearer still not out of the picture, despite reports claiming the club captain and Geordie hero had ruled himself out.

Allardyce was making no comment on the speculation as he put the finishing touches to his summer recruitment drive ahead of tonight's transfer deadline.