Owen Coyle's Bolton reign has been dealt an early blow after a massive behind-the-scenes bust-up involving long-serving keeper and star performer Jussi Jaaskelainen.
The Daily Mail reveal in Saturday 23rd January's edition that Jaaskelainen was ready to ask for a transfer after Fred Barber was replaced by Phil Hughes, Coyle's goalkeeping coach from Burnley. It took just half-an-hour The Daily Mail report, into his first training session with Hughes when Jussi told Coyle he wanted Barber reinstated or he would be off.
Coyle had already told Barber to leave after deciding to bring in his own backroom staff from Burnley, but was forced to ask him to return. Barber accepted and is now listed alongside Hughes as joint-goalkeeping coach on Bolton's official website.
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Barber played 153 games for Walsall between 1986 and 1991 after signing for £100,000. Barber was a hugely popular figure amongst Walsall fans, and he played a crucial role in the club's Division Three play-off final replay victory in the 1987-88 season over Bristol City.
After the two-legged final had ended in a 3-3 aggregate draw, Barber saved two penalties in the subsequent penalty shootout which determined who would have home advantage in the deciding replay. Having won the shoot-out Barber kept a clean sheet at Fellows Park as Walsall romped home to a 4-0 victory