Bolton Wanderers FC

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• Manager:Owen Coyle

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Bolton face Ben Haim exit

11 Jan 2007 - 14:24:05

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Bolton Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce has admitted defeat in his attempts to get central defender Tal Ben Haim to pledge his long-term future to the club.

The 24-year-old Israel international is out of contract at the end of the season and has rejected the offer of a new deal from the Trotters, having been linked with both Chelsea and West Ham.

Allardyce told his club's official website: "He won't sign a contract now. It is a great shame that it has gone beyond that now.

"We'll just have to wait and see what will happen over the coming months. I don't think he'll move this month.

"He is likely to see out his contract and he'll be off and away in the summer. As a player you can use the rules and regulations and you can't blame him for that.

"It is a difficult situation for both parties, but as long as Tal continues playing for us at the level he has set himself, I'll be very happy.

"He is an ambitious lad and even though we have ambition ourselves, it seems there are clubs who are bigger than us who are keen on signing him."

Ben Haim joined the Trotters in the summer of 2004 and has scored once in 98 appearances for the club.