UNREPENTANT Bolton boss Sam Allardyce, criticised last season for leaving his first team in the stand on Worthington Cup nights, will do the same again this evening when Bury hit the Reebok.

Only Dean Holdsworth, Ivan Campo and keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen, who will be cover for Kevin Poole, survive in a 15-man squad from the side who started Saturday's drawn Premiership game with Southampton.

But Allardyce insists his decision is governed more by finance than football as he leaves his current first-team stars kicking their heels until Saturday's league match at Middlesbrough.

He said: "I have to balance what's best for the club. When you are sitting in my seat, and are faced with that decision, it is a huge blow to you as a manager because, quite simply, you want to win every match.

"You never go out as a manager or a player to lose but you have to weigh the situation up and counter balance it with what you consider is your main priority.

"The bottom line is that the decision isn't about football, it's about finance. We want to make money out of the Worthington Cup and we did last year. We probably made in excess on half a millions pounds by reaching the quarter-final.

Finance

"But that is still way, way behind what you get out of being in the Premiership so it isn't a football decision. Football is ruled by finance, not football.

"It would be great to go to the Millennium Stadium for the Worthington Cup final but I can't let my heart ruled my head by going for it."

Even without his current first choice players, Bolton have a squad which includes Jay-Jay Okocha and Stig Tofting, who played in this summer's World Cup, plus Campo and Bulent Akin who have appeared in the Champions League.

Add Kevin Nolan, returning from a groin injury, and striker Chris Armstrong, working his way back to full match fitness, and Wanderers still have a formidable squad.

Allardyce added: "It should be enough to beat Bury but I haven't forgotten that we lost to Macclesfield two years ago.

"It will be good for our players to be in a very competitive game against local rivals who will raise their game."

Allardyce sent a stinging rebuke to the 'London yobboes' who criticised him for fielding squad sides last season when Bolton beat Walsall, Nottingham Forest and Southampton before losing to Spurs in the quarter-final.

He added: "Arsene Wenger, Glenn Hoddle and Claudio Ranieri can do it and it's all right. But when a north west club like Bolton do it, then it's a disgrace.

"But the proof of the pudding is in the eating and, at the end of the season, we did what we wanted - to stay in the Premiership for the first time in 22 years.

"We answered the critics and it will be much the same this season without devaluing the competition. It's still going to be hell of a side that I will select tonight."

Is Sam right to drop his first teamers? Should his best side be used in every competition? Have your say.

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