IF Wanderers' fans ever needed to put their rivalry with Manchester United into perspective, they need only check out the latest posting on the United We Stand website.

Traditionally, Bolton fans consider the men from Old Trafford as their arch-enemies but the strength of the ill-feeling is not reciprocated.

Hence the entry on UWS suggesting that United supporters will be more than happy if Wanderers are still in the Premiership next season - provided it is at the expense of Leeds United.

"I want Bolton to stay up," says Andy the Red. "That's only because I want Leeds to go down, and the more games Bolton win, the more chance there is of Leeds going down."

United are still smarting, of course, from having had their title hopes dented by their so-called poor relations.

Andy goes on: "Watching United at the Reebok last month was not pleasant. It wasn't just the replica shirted Munich singing kids to the right of the away end, but the contrite performance of the Reds. Sometimes, you get days like that. But, faced between a choice of which team I'd like to see go down out of Bolton and Leeds, there's no contest.

"Leeds going down would be the funniest thing since publicity Ridsdale opined that his club were closing in on Manchester United two years ago. It would be funnier than paying £4.6 million for a past-it Lee Sharpe, funnier than Leeds' shocking hovel of a home which is to aesthetic values what Maine Road is to the San Siro; funnier than the 'honestly, we're not selling any more players' quotes that Ridsdale spouts to the very supporters who applauded his 'ambition' two years ago."

But there is a grudging admiration for Wanderers.

"Under 'Big Sam', Bolton somehow manage to stay in the Premiership where economics would dictate that a bigger club took their position." Allardyce is a shrewd man, respected inside Old Trafford but before you read too deeply into that, unlikely to succeed Sir Alex.

"With no money to spend on transfers due to his club's precarious financial position, Allardyce excels in two areas. First, he scours the European leagues for possible targets, then he convinces class players like French World Cup winner Djorkaeff to join the club. Selling Bolton Wanderers to Djorkaeff or Okocha must be like selling rice to the Chinese.

"Secondly, patently aware that his squad is not as strong as rivals, he makes use of sports psychologists, physiotherapists and dieticians. Players are atuned to the powers of positive thinking, a sensible diet (pasta not pies) and injury prevention. Check out Bolton's injury list - or lack of it - for the results. It's easy to deride his techniques as easily as Allardyce laments the £50 million lavished of the admittedly stunning Reebok Stadium - "We've not even got our own training ground and yet we built a monument when we needed a football stadium," Allardyce told me last year when I trimmed his hefty muzzy with some sheers - but they work.

"Keep up the good work until the end of the season Sam. You might play a part in making Leeds United an even bigger laughing barrel than they are now."