Bolton aiming to avoid repeat of relegation scare

Bolton will find out this season if its recent flirtation with relegation was an aberration or an indication of difficulties to come. Established in the top half of the Premier League under former manager Sam Allardyce, Bolton stumbled badly following his departure and only made sure of its place in the top flight with a late flurry of 11 points in its last five games. Key players El-Hadji Diouf, Ivan Campo and Stelios Giannakopoulos left in the offseason, so much will depend on how Allardyce's latest successor, Gary Megson, integrates their replacements into the squad. Goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen surprisingly signed a new contract to spurn interest from other clubs, suggesting the Finn is confident which way things are going to go. "We belong in the Premier League and I'm confident that last season was just a hiccup,"... [read full story]