Todd brings in Porterfield as Bolton No 2
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Colin Todd's first decision in sole charge of Bolton yesterday was to appoint Ian Porterfield, the former Chelsea, Aberdeen and Sheffield United manager, as his assistant.
Porterfield, who has been a free agent since leaving Zambia, where he was the national team manager, joined the Premier League's basement team following the dismissal of their joint-manager, Roy McFarland.
Tuesday's decision to appease Bolton fans by splitting the pairing took the players by surprise - recent signing Scott Sellars heard about it on television - and was met with mixed reactions. The centre-half Alan Stubbs said: "I don't think two managers work. You never really know who the boss is." The striker John McGinlay added: "Roy McFarland was a really nice guy, maybe too nice."
Todd and Porterfield are old friends, having been players together at Sunderland, where Porterfield is remembered for scoring the winner in the 1973 FA Cup final.
Their first game in charge is Saturday's trip to Bradford in the FA Cup, which yesterday became the latest competition to fall in line with the Bosman judgement sweeping away restrictions on foreign players.
Sir Bert Millichip, 81, has confirmed that he will step down this summer after 15 years as FA chairman. In his annual letter to FA members, Sir Bert also reiterated his support for the England coach, Terry Venables, dismissing "trial by daily slur", but insisting that "the truth" behind the "damaging allegations souring the game" must emerge in 1996.
West Ham are to sign the Croatian international Slaven Bilic - subject to work permit clearance, which could take up to a month. The Hammers, who have agreed a pounds 1.2m fee with Karlsruhe for the centre-half, are also giving a trial to the Toulouse striker Philippe Chanlot.
Wimbledon and Everton are to be asked to explain why Joe Royle was reportedly shown the boardroom door at Selhurst Park on Monday. Royle praised the referee, Alan Wilkie, after his Everton side had won 3-2, saying: "He was excellent in a siege situation... it would have been easy for a less experienced referee to have cracked." He is said to have made similar comments in the boardroom.
The Blackburn striker, Alan Shearer, has been cleared of allegations that he made obscene gestures at Middlesbrough fans on 16 December.
n Nigeria have been warned that they risk a six-year suspension from the African Nations' Cup if they go ahead with the decision to withdraw from the tournament in South Africa later this month.
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