Links with Manchester City rejected by Allardyce

Sam Allardyce, the Bolton Wanderers manager, yesterday hit out at "disappointing" rumours linking him with Kevin Keegan's job as the manager of Manchester City.

Allardyce described the reports as "pure speculation", adding they were particularly unhelpful at a time when he is trying to prepare his team to take on Middlesbrough in the Carling Cup final at the Millennium Stadium.

Wanderers are scheduled to take on City in the Premiership at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday, and Allardyce is convinced that Keegan will be far from happy with suggestions that his job is in imminent jeopardy.

"It's disappointing to read such speculation, especially prior to the Manchester City game and ahead of the Carling Cup final," Allardyce said. "I suspect Kevin [Keegan] is even more disappointed." Allardyce is currently five years into a 10-year contract at Bolton.

Meanwhile, Michael Tarnat is determined to win a new contract at Manchester City. The 34-year-old German is out of contract in the summer after arriving from Bayern Munich.

"I want to stay longer here but no one from the club has spoken to me yet," he said. Keegan has already said that he will not take a decision on Tarnat's future until the end of the season.