Gardner offered new contract

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

Bolton Wanderers' club manager, Owen Coyle, has passed the ball onto Ricardo 'Bibi' Gardner's side of the field, where his new contract deal with Reebok is concerned.

Coyle has offered the long-serving Jamaican another year at the club on reduced terms, following an injury-hit campaign that saw him make a mere four first-team starts.

Gardner has been with Bolton for 13 years, having been signed in 1998 following his campaign at the World Cup with the Reggae Boyz. He has gone on to make in excess of 400 appearances for the North West England outfit.

Knee problem

The 32-year-old had been sidelined for much of the just concluded season with a knee problem and was subsequently loaned out to Championship club Preston North End for a month.

However, he featured in Bolton's last four games of the season, playing out of central midfield.

Coyle offered Gardner a new contract, having been impressed with his attitude after returning from his loan spell and now awaits word from the player's agent.

"We've put in an offer to Ricardo's representatives and we'll wait to see what happens," Coyle told the Bolton News. "He had a difficult season with injury, but he came back after the loan spell at Preston North End and showed he wanted to be part of what we're doing.

"It's up to him now. If he wants to sign, absolutely brilliant, and if he doesn't we'll move on," he added.

Coyle has, however, expressed concern with the amount the club has had to spend on injured players.

"As a football club we have been held back because players have been injured and that takes up finance that we could use."