Former Bolton Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce has hit out at the club over its treatment of Kevin Davies.

The Trotters recently confirmed that the veteran striker will be released after almost a decade at the Reebok Stadium, just five days before his 10th anniversary.

It was originally thought that Davies would not be entitled to a testimonial match, but Bolton chairman Phil Gartside has since insisted that this is not the case.

However, current West Ham United boss Allardyce believes that Davies's release has been poorly handled.

"Every footballer has to face the fact that his career comes to an end at some stage at whatever football club you've been at, but the timing and the way that Bolton have handled it isn't very good," Sky Sports News quotes Allardyce as saying. "I think they've handled it poorly.

"It has been a great shame when it happens to somebody who has been such a great servant. Someone who I brought there when he was released by Southampton."

The Hammers manager went on to say that Davies should be remembered as one of Bolton's all-time greats.

"I thought at the time he would be a great acquisition, but I never expected him to be such a major force in what I and we did at the time and continue to do when I left," he added.

"Over 10 years for all but five days and then to be released on his birthday was pretty insensitive and I think they could have handled it an awful lot better as a football club and should have done."

Davies, 36, has made 407 appearances for the Championship club and currently captains the side.