Phil Gartside risks his own future at Bolton Wanderers by backing manager Sammy Lee.

The Mirror says Gartside staked his reputation on Lee when he made him Sam Allardyce's successor in April and will give him every chance to turn around the club's fortunes.

However Gartside's own position at the Reebok could be jeopardised if Bolton are relegated.

Gartside has worked his way into a position of great influence in the game and would lose his places on the FA board and UEFA's youth and amateur committee if he left Bolton.

Thursday's UEFA Cup tie with Macedonia's FK Rabotnicki in Skopje will be the first of six games in 18 days which could decide Lee's fate.