Sam Allardyce sends condolences to family of Phil Gartside

Sam Allardyce has spoken of the "magical" journey he took with Bolton chairman Phil Gartside, who has died at the age of 63.

The current Sunderland boss teamed up with Gartside to lead Wanderers into the Barclays Premier League, establish them as a top-flight outfit and then guide them into Europe during a hugely successful eight-year partnership.

Allardyce said: "From the point of view of how long I have known Phil and the family, it was obviously devastating news for them and for me.

"I was aware of the illness before, but kept that very close to myself. But obviously my condolences go out to the family.

"My memories are great - even though later on, we may not have seen eye-to-eye - but certainly the journey we took from 1999 to 2007 was magical.

"We took that journey together and basically re-built a football club that achieved great success, so those are the memories I'll remember of Phil."

Allardyce was appointed in October 1999 and remained at the helm until April 2007, when he was head-hunted by Newcastle.

During that spell, he was given the time to implement his blueprint for success, a rarity for managers nowadays.

The 61-year-old said: "My time is the happy times that I spent with Phil from 1999, when I joined the club on my 45th birthday.

"We did dream together where we might go and we actually took our dreams to be a reality, so I'll always have those memories.

"Obviously, my condolences go out to [his wife] Carol and the rest of the family, who I know very well as well. But it was one great journey we had together and it's a very sad loss for the family, particularly at just 63."