GAME for a laugh Phil Gartside has agreed to sit down to a plate of sheeps' testicles after seeing his high-flying Wanderers storm to the top of the table!

But as he tucks into the Lebanese "delicacy" the fun loving Wanderers chairman will enjoy a chuckle at the expense of Sam Allardyce, who has been coaxed into dressing up in a clown's outfit and parading in Bolton town centre - all for charity, of course.

The crackpot capers have been dreamed up by Dean Holdsworth - a member of football's original Crazy Gang and one of the architects of the team spirit that has already taken the Premiership by storm.

The pranks are just two on a list of light-hearted "forfeits" agreed between the players and their support staff at the Reebok in an attempt to emulate the all-for-one, one-for-all philosophy that made the unfashionable Dons such a formidable force for 13 incredible top flight seasons.

"It works," Holdsworth said, confident his idea will enhance Wanderers' survival prospects. "We might not be able to compete on the financial side but what we lack in the amount of money we have to spend, we can make up for on the pitch with team spirit and a big belief in one another. We showed last season how important it was to have a good team spirit and we are determined to build on that.

"It's a bit of fun really but there is a serious point to it. Hopefully it will go a long way to helping us stay in the Premiership for many years to come."

The forfeit system is result based. If Wanderers win a game by three goals or more, they select members of the Reebok staff - coaches, receptionists, office staff - to take part in a particular stunt. If they lose by four goals or more, the players do it.

Staff were informed of the Crazy Gang plan yesterday and the first "volunteers" selected. Joining the chairman in the Middle Eastern feast will be the club's communications manager, Katrina Davis, coach Neil McDonald and assistant physio, Faz Page, while Big Sam will be clowning around with assistant manager, Phil Brown, football secretary, Simon Marland, and fitness specialist, Craig White.

Mr Gartside had no hesitation in backing the forfeit scheme. "Dean came up with the idea at the end of the discussions on bonuses. It's a superb idea and I wanted everybody to get involved.

"We'll do the restaurant one in the next couple of weeks. I'm quite happy about that one because I've had the 'delicacy' before. But it's going to be fun seeing Sam and the rest of the lads in clowns' outfits!"

Holdsworth explained. "I threw it at the chairman as something we did at Wimbledon and suggested everybody at the club got involved.

"Hopefully, it will be the staff doing the forfeits rather than the players because that will mean we're winning games. But, if we have to do it, we will.

"Out of every negative, there should be a positive. If the boys do have to do a forfeit, it will at least put a smile on people's faces and raise some cash for the club's adopted charity as well.

"We didn't know after the 5-0 win at Leicester whether we should try it on the chairman but he loves it."