NOBODY LIKES to see managers go and I certainly didn't like seeing Sammy go. It's been a tough few days and I hope the new manager can come in as quickly as possible to get the new foundations put in place. I'm sure Archie Knox will do a fantastic job in the meantime. I'm gutted for Sammy but that's football unfortunately. I'd like to thank him for the three years he gave to Bolton.

Archie had his first session with us last Thursday and told us that now is the time for all of us to pull together as football club - as players and as staff - and to get ourselves out of this situation we find ourselves in. He's not got a magic wand which he can wave and turn everything around, but, with the quality we have in our squad, he said that there is not a doubt in his mind that we can get ourselves out of this position.

I wrote these notes before we took on Arsenal the Emirates Stadium, where hopefully we'll have put in a good solid performance, and who knows, maybe we will get a positive result. We've gone there in the past and got some excellent results. Tonight's game marks the start of a busy six days with the visits of Aston Villa and Manchester City coming up. As professional footballers we want to be playing all these games. Although we aren't doing too well in the League at the moment, we've progressed further into both of the cup competitions we are in. From that perspective it is 'fantastic times', but we really do need to get our league campaign back on track and get into the top half of the table.

I'd like to welcome our opponents who have travelled over from Portugal for tonight's game. Portuguese football has come more into the spotlight since Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani came over here. Although we don't know the insides and outsides of Braga, we know that they are a good technical side with a bunch of quick lads. It is going to be a tough game but I am very confident that we can do the business at home. If you win your home games during the group stages it more or less guarantees that you qualify for the next round. We have got to make sure that we capitalise on our home advantage tonight and when we play Aris later in the year.

Our next game is at Bayern Munich and they were probably on everybody's wish list when the draw was made. Hopefully, the next time we play them after the group game will be in the final!The whole draw was fantastic for us; playing Red Star Belgrade will be tough and Aris will be another exciting challenge. It will be difficult for us but by the same token very exciting. It's going to be another great European adventure but we will not allow ourselves to get too distracted from the Barclays Premier League, which has to be our main focus. If you are not successful in the league, then ultimately you will not be successful in the cup competitions.

Finally, I would like to reassure everybody, that although there has been a bit of upheaval behind the scenes with Sammy going, all the lads are fully committed to the cause. Everybody who will be wearing a Bolton Wanderers shirt will be giving 110 percent. We don't' want to be in the position we are in the league and it is down to us to get ourselves out it. We all hope you stick with us and help us through the tough times. I've been there in the past when we first came up six or seven years ago, and I've also been part of the good times. This is the season we need you the most. Please get behind us all you will play a massive part in us getting out of the bottom-three and into the later rounds of the competitions.