Megson, who managed the Potters back in 1999, was axed on Wednesday by Bolton. In a further twist, the Reebok Stadium club are believed to have current Stoke assistant manager Peter Reid on their wanted list as a replacement. Pulis is aware of the speculation surrounding Reid, but at present is more concerned with giving Megson, a personal friend, and helping hand back into the game. Megson worked unpaid for Pulis a few years ago while he was looking for work and the Stoke boss would be happy to make the same offer again. Pulis, preparing his side for Saturday's FA Cup third-round home clash with York, took time out today to praise Megson and offer his helping hand. Pulis said: "Gary is well respected in the game, a good football man. He worked for me here for three months without pay, and did everything I asked him to do. "Gary was here every day and he was exceptional in everything he did. "He will get back into the game. I've known him since he was 15, I played under his father, and he is one of those people you would want on your side. "If he wants to get his boots back on in time and do some work for me, he would be very welcome." Pulis added; "Gary did a good job at Bolton, he's a very honest lad and works very hard. "Sometimes people get carried away with what they expect a club should achieve, but Gary certainly produced the work, graft and effort you need to be a manager. "He would have put everything into that club. He would not have been the sort of manager who is ducking and diving looking to use Bolton as a stepping stone to another job, he would have tried to do everything he could to make Bolton a success. "When you have such an honest and hard-working guy it is tough that people cannot see the big picture. "I will speak to him when everything has all died down. I've left him a message on his answer-phone to wish him well." He added: "I will try to get hold of Gary to ask him to get involved, when he is ready there is a place for him here. There's always a place for him. "We have a soft spot for him, he was manager here and worked for me when he needed to. "He may want to get some sun on his head now, but when he wants to put his boots on he can do that here. "As for Peter(Reid) he is an ex-Bolton player, and if he was interested and they were interested, then fine. But I only want them to sit down with us and tell us like men. "If Peter said he wanted to go to Bolton, I wouldn't stand in his way. He has worked well here, but if he said wanted to go then that would be okay." Whether Pulis loses his right-hand man Reid is open to debate but he added: "If anything happens Peter will tell me. He wants to be a manager again, but he will be decent enough to sit down and tell me. "It is not for me to ask people what they are going to do, if there is anything happening he will let me know."
