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Prime targets

10:59am Friday 19th October 2007

comment Comments (106)   Have your say »

By Gordon Sharrock »

BOLTON Wanderers' search for a new manager has already taken them from Birmingham to the Basque region of Spain.

While Reebok officials maintained a diplomatic silence on the question of who they want to succeed Sammy Lee, it emerged yesterday that they have made approaches for Birmingham City boss, Steve Bruce, and the Real Sociedad manager, Chris Coleman.

Early inidications are that both bids were unsuccessful and that they may have to look elsewhere. But comfirmation of the approaches has drastically shortened the odds on Bruce and Coleman becoming the next Bolton manager.

Paul Jewell, remains a firm favourite with the bookmakers, but it has become clear over the past 24 hours that the former Wigan manager is not the only name on the short-list, if indeed his name is there at all.

There appeared to be no question that Bruce was on Phil Gartside's radar after the Blues' boss confirmed earlier speculation that on Wednesday night, just hours after Lee had quit the Reebok, the Wanderers' chairman approached St Andrew's chiefs seeking permission to speak to their man.

"My first reaction was that they've seen the type of job I've done and would like permission to speak to me," Bruce told Sky Sports News. "That hasn't been granted so I'll accept that."

Then, later in the day, came confirmation from Coleman's representative, Alan Smith, that Wanderers also wanted to speak to the former Fulham manager, who joined the Spanish second division club in the summer.

Smith, who was Coleman's manager at Crystal Palace and was once interviewed himself for the Bolton job, contradicted claims that the former Wales international was unsettled at Sociedad.

"Bolton have asked for permission to speak to Chris," Smith said. "It's a very interesting proposition for him to return to the Premier League, but at the same time he is happy in Spain. We have already turned down an enquiry from another English club."

It remains to be seen whether Wanderers will pursue their interest in either man, but, with Bruce reportedly unsettled by a proposed change of ownership, the time could be right to test Birmingham's resolve.

The 46-year-old, has been at St Andrew's for six years and has twice steered the Blues to promotion to the Premier League. So it is no surprise, after Lee was found wanting for experience, that the Reebok hierarchy have targeted a manager with a more extensive CV.

The former Manchester United captain managed Sheffield United, Huddersfield, Wigan and Crystal Palace before joining Birmingham in 2001.

That season he steered the Blues to the top flight and kept them there for four years. When they were relegated two seasons ago, the St Andrew's board stood by him and their loyalty was rewarded when they were promoted back to the Premiership at the first attempt. But Bruce is now seeking assurances over his future in the light of Hong Kong businessman, Carson Yeung's proposed takeover.

Graeme Souness, John Collins, Gary Megson and Peter Reid feature in the betting frame behind Jewell.

Phil Brown, meanwhile, has ruled out a Reebok return.

The Hull boss, who quit Wanderers to manage Derby in the summer of 2005 denied any interest in the job.

"I am very happy with the job I'm doing here," said Brown, whose association with the club goes back to 1988.

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Your Say Yourtheboltonnews

Alder Brownstone, Lancashire says...
11:11am Fri 19 Oct 07

At least the club appears to be taking their time and looking at all available options rather than just rushing into this. Hopefully it's something they have learnt from appointing LSL.

Rumour has it Hoddle will be approached and an approach for Steve Coppell was turned down also.

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Bolton Billy, Daubhill says...
11:35am Fri 19 Oct 07

The problem now is that if Bruce and Coleman are the prefered targets for Bolton then any future alternative appointment will be seen as a `make do`.I think King Cain has got it right when he suggests John Collins.
The Wanderers should aim as high as possible and Collins would be seen as an ambitious move. I also have tremendous respect for Steve Coppell. He is a highly underrated manager of great integrity.

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Only one Andy Walker, London says...
11:35am Fri 19 Oct 07

What we need is someone to get the fans and players excited again. At the moment everything is doom and gloom. It all started when we had such a bad end to the season. picking up few wins, playing the worst football i've ever seen, Allardyce leaving, then Sammy Lee taking charge, who we all really knew wasn't the answer, and then no top quality exciting signings just poor cheap players.

WE REALLY NEED A TOP QUALITY EXCITING MANAGER TO GET THE TOWN AND CLUB BUZZING AGAIN.

WE NEED A SPARK TO GET THE FANS GOING AGAIN. LIKE WHEN THE BOARD OPENED IT'S EYES AND SIGNED ANDY WALKER THEN LATER DAVID LEE IN THE 90'S.

ALL THE MANAGERS MENTIONED MAKE ME VERY DEPRESSED AS THEY ARE ALL VERY POOR.

JEWELL = BULLY TACTICALLY POOR

REID= CLUELESS TOO OLD SCHOOL

COLEMAN=FULHAM ALWAYS IN THE BOTTOM HALF OF TABLE

Bruce= always looks flustered and a bit of a ditherer. Lost the dressing room when brum went down.

we have the players to move up the table. they just need the management and fans backing.

sadly if JEWELL OR ANY OF THE OTHERS MENTIONED GET THE JOB NO EXCITEMENT WILL BE GENERATED JUST BORE.


LETS HOP THE BOARD HAVE SOME VISION.


I ALSO HOPE NOLAN AND SPEED ARE DROPPED FOR SATURDAY AS THE TEAM LAST WEEK PLAYED VERY WELL. ESPECIALLY GUTHRIE AND MC CANN

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Only one Andy Walker, London says...
11:36am Fri 19 Oct 07

WHY DO SOME FANS THINK "JEWELL WOULD BE GOOD"?

HE IS A SHOCKER! DONE NOTHING AT WIGAN & BRADFORD!

WE ARE NOT RELEGATION FODDER! WE HAVE SOME QUALITY PLAYERS WHO NEED A QUALITY MANAGER.

WE HAVE BETTER PLAYERS THAN DERBY,BRUM,MIDDLESBO

ROUGH, WEST HAM,SUNDERLAND,FULHA

M.

WE JUST NEED A CONFIDENT MANAGER WHO IS TACTICALLY AWARE AND CAN GAIN THE RESPECT OF THE PLAYERS AND FANS.

TWO WINS ON THE BOUNCE AND WE CAN PUSH UP THE TABLE.

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Paul1970, Fleetwood says...
11:43am Fri 19 Oct 07

This was on the Newsnow website, don't know if there is any truth in it, don't shoot the messenger.

After a poor start to the season and the exit of Sammy Lee, there is yet more disruption for Bolton. It seems they have a new owner, at least according to Daniel Taylor, writing for the Guardian.

(Phil) Gartside reported back to the club's owner, Eddie Lewis, and they announced in a brief statement it was a 'difficult decision for all parties but we have agreed the time is right,' wrote Taylor in a piece that was long on speculation and short on fact.

The last time we looked, the clubs owner was Eddie Davies, so clearly there`s been a great deal of secrecy in getting the new man in. Or maybe it`s just that Daniel Taylor is a crap journalist.


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barbarossa, poulton le fylde says...
11:55am Fri 19 Oct 07

After the almost indecent haste in appointing SL we seem to have moved to the other extreme in scouting the universe.Should have done it before!Collins for me.

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richard, darwen says...
12:08pm Fri 19 Oct 07

john collins bring him in or TONY MOWBURY FROM WEST BROM!!


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Andy, Staffordshire says...
12:12pm Fri 19 Oct 07

When is Collins' contract up? Agent spin in operation here. He'll be looking for more money, Bruce wants a showdown with the new owner and Coleman needs to show the Basques that he is valued elsewhere to shore up his own position. Once again Gartside has made a pig's ear of the management of the club. We would be on Plan C now if there had ever been a Plan A. Phil and Eddie, the Punch and Judy of Bolton.

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Seddy, Horwich, Bolton says...
12:15pm Fri 19 Oct 07

John Collins is making his own destiny at Hibs. Why the hell would he want to give up on all the hard work he has done so far and come to a struggling premiership team? Hibs beat Rangers away in their last league game!

Yes we have some good players but possibly only until january? Whoever does take over the reign will have to work with a low budget, possibly the lowest in the premiership.
Even Wigan managed to splash the cash on the likes of Koumas, I just think Gartside has let everybody down by not letting SL spend decent amounts in the summer and he is now looking to recruit a second rate manager such as Bruce and Coleman. Fulham nearly went down last season and Bruce has already got relegated with Birmingham!!

Gartside is a joke! Especially with all the TV money floating around he has no excuses. The man should take a long hard look at himself.

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Blanco, Bolton says...
12:16pm Fri 19 Oct 07

John Collins for me too, please not Gary Megson or Glen Hoddle or any of the other nearly men mentioned. Andy Walker has it spot on we want a manager with a bit of spark and who has actually won something.

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rafe, Sydney says...
12:18pm Fri 19 Oct 07

I have always tried to look at any situation with a positive aspect but I fear the worst and that souness or reid will step in to take us who knows where.
The more sensible shouts i have heard are collins or coppell but then again doesn't he suffer from the same nerves problem that jewell has.
All we can hope for is a manager that can put up with not being given any money, whatever they may promise him to get him into the job and one that will hold the whites as paramount above his career.

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Paul, Deane says...
12:44pm Fri 19 Oct 07

Its OK sacking Sammy Lee if we already had a replacement lined up.All we are now doing is trawling round a list of failed managers, with the exception of Collins, none of whom would inspire the fans. I cant beleive the chairman woke up on Weds morning and decided to sack the manager, this must have been in the planning for a while, so why was the new manager situation not sorted in advance. this seems typical of the way the club is being run, the worry now is that our best players have a ready made excuse to jump ship in January. THe root cause of course
is not backing the manager with funds in the summer

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charnersbwfc, Adlington says...
12:52pm Fri 19 Oct 07

My Vote would be to try and get in Alex Mcleish.....doubt he would come to us though

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barbarossa, poulton le fylde says...
12:54pm Fri 19 Oct 07

Gartside is a disgace and could well be a major problem in recruiting a good manager.If he had an ounce of decency,and of course he has none at all,he would follow SL out the door.

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rafe, Sydney says...
12:59pm Fri 19 Oct 07

f**k me they have approached leicester for megson, hopefully we are starting at the bottom and working up.
The other question is how are the other managers that are approached after these rejections going to feel?

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Jon, Bolton says...
1:01pm Fri 19 Oct 07

rafe wrote:
f**k me they have approached leicester for megson, hopefully we are starting at the bottom and working up. The other question is how are the other managers that are approached after these rejections going to feel?
I don't think its a case of "first choice" I think we are just seeing who wants the job, who is available, and who we can talk to, before we make a decision.

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King Cain, Bolton says...
1:10pm Fri 19 Oct 07

rafe wrote:
I have always tried to look at any situation with a positive aspect but I fear the worst and that souness or reid will step in to take us who knows where. The more sensible shouts i have heard are collins or coppell but then again doesn't he suffer from the same nerves problem that jewell has. All we can hope for is a manager that can put up with not being given any money, whatever they may promise him to get him into the job and one that will hold the whites as paramount above his career.
There's no problem with Coppell's nerves he left City after a very short spell as they discovered he is gay (fact) and was ousted however that wouldn't bother me whatsoever if he took BWFC forward. It doesn't mean he is any worse a manager in fact he is an excellent manager and very underated however there is only one choice for me and i do keep going on about it and he is Collins.

The problem we have is that if Gartslime had took his time and made the correct choice when Big Sam left then we would be in a position to pick from a better selection of candidates. Players like Faye may have wanted to stay if he had seen we were going places. As it is we have had to lower our sights to managers with experience of relegation battles and wont be able to attract the Houlliers or the Koemans who may have been tempted taking over at the end of last season with the promise of a 20 million war chest. And there lies the problem Gartslime is a complete and utter toss bag and it's his and Eddie Davies' fault why we are in this mess.

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King Cain, Bolton says...
1:11pm Fri 19 Oct 07

rafe wrote:
I have always tried to look at any situation with a positive aspect but I fear the worst and that souness or reid will step in to take us who knows where. The more sensible shouts i have heard are collins or coppell but then again doesn't he suffer from the same nerves problem that jewell has. All we can hope for is a manager that can put up with not being given any money, whatever they may promise him to get him into the job and one that will hold the whites as paramount above his career.
There's no problem with Coppell's nerves he left City after a very short spell as they discovered he is gay (fact) and was ousted however that wouldn't bother me whatsoever if he took BWFC forward. It doesn't mean he is any worse a manager in fact he is an excellent manager and very underated however there is only one choice for me and i do keep going on about it and he is Collins.

The problem we have is that if Gartslime had took his time and made the correct choice when Big Sam left then we would be in a position to pick from a better selection of candidates. Players like Faye may have wanted to stay if he had seen we were going places. As it is we have had to lower our sights to managers with experience of relegation battles and wont be able to attract the Houlliers or the Koemans who may have been tempted taking over at the end of last season with the promise of a 20 million war chest. And there lies the problem Gartslime is a complete and utter toss bag and it's his and Eddie Davies' fault why we are in this mess.

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King Cain, Bolton says...
1:13pm Fri 19 Oct 07

Sorry dont know why that went on twice

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Tassie Tiger, Hobart says...
1:14pm Fri 19 Oct 07

It is all worrying. Of the list of managers there is no one apart from John Collins who makes you sit up. Allegedly he has turned down QPR, but then I so would I. Surely it is worth an approach. He says he has never walked out on a contract, but there is a first time for eveything. I do feel we will be disapointed. I can remember when Bruce Rioch and BSA were appointed being very enthusiastic about the future. Looking at this list I fear for the future.

Finally, much as I like it for it's news coverage The Guardian never says anything nice about Bolton. Having said that it was mentioning dressing room ill feeling before the start of the season.

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barbarossa, poulton le fylde says...
1:15pm Fri 19 Oct 07

King Cain-Hear Hear!

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Paul, Deane says...
1:25pm Fri 19 Oct 07

If Gartside had a replacementin mind which would excite the fans eg Capello, Mourinho or someone of that calibre then I could understand him sacking SL. but we have no replacement lined up and are now approaching failed managers with no track record of success in the Premier league and none of whom in my opinion would do a better job than SL.Also the main criteria for Gartside will be the ability to manage a club in the PL without spending any money. What calibre of manager will be prepared to work under those circumstances

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andy, London says...
1:26pm Fri 19 Oct 07

Megson?

Megson?

Is Gartside on drugs?

Megson???

Please lord no. I'd sooner Michael Ricketts took over with Robbie savage as his assistant.

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andy, London says...
1:30pm Fri 19 Oct 07

Megson?

Megson?

Is Gartside on drugs?

Megson???

Please lord no. I'd sooner Michael Ricketts took over with Robbie savage as his assistant.

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Pedro, Bolton says...
1:32pm Fri 19 Oct 07

Paul wrote:
If Gartside had a replacementin mind which would excite the fans eg Capello, Mourinho or someone of that calibre then I could understand him sacking SL. but we have no replacement lined up and are now approaching failed managers with no track record of success in the Premier league and none of whom in my opinion would do a better job than SL.Also the main criteria for Gartside will be the ability to manage a club in the PL without spending any money. What calibre of manager will be prepared to work under those circumstances
Spot on Paul.

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Pedro, Bolton says...
1:36pm Fri 19 Oct 07

5 Live just reported Leicester City refused as well. Phew!!!! All the shutters are going up.

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hatemanu, bolton says...
1:42pm Fri 19 Oct 07

ruud hullit is my choice , never got a fair crack at newcastle and he would raise the pofile of club . No chance at all though , bruce was 14.5 to one, last night on betfair, now only 3.5 to 1 , do they no something we dont . coleman is still favourite but gone to 3 to1 , lastnight he was 2 to1 . come on gartside try at least to get a big name .

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eenie, Derby says...
1:42pm Fri 19 Oct 07

andy wrote:
Megson?

Megson?

Is Gartside on drugs?

Megson???

Please lord no. I'd sooner Michael Ricketts took over with Robbie savage as his assistant.
I know. I'm shocked. If Phil or ANYONE with the clubs interests reads this stuff. Appoint Megson, and we quit. He took over at my dad's club, Nottm Forest and he took them even further down the pan. Gartside, You're having a laugh. Sort it out & get Collins in, that's John Collins, not Collins John.

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Pele, rio says...
1:44pm Fri 19 Oct 07

Gary Megson, is this some sort of sick joke...?

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God_Man, Westhoughton says...
1:49pm Fri 19 Oct 07

GARTSIDE MUST GO!!!!! GARTSIDE MUST GO!!!!!
Like half of our signings this year Gary Megson is no more than Championship material.

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Son of Bolton Reader, Amsterdam says...
1:53pm Fri 19 Oct 07

Ruud Gullit - only beacuse we would be shown on a better channel than sport1.7, over here. rather be on sport1 than sport1.7!!!!!!

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Voice of Reason, Bolton says...
2:07pm Fri 19 Oct 07

If Gary Megson gets the job I would throw my 'teamcard' in Gartside's face. If we are pushing the boat out its obviously a rubber dinghy !

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neon, Greenville, SC says...
2:07pm Fri 19 Oct 07

Heaven help me. There are some people on here who are just flat out, brain-addled morons.
Can't you get it into your thick skulls that we are Bolton Wanderers.

NOT - F. C. Barcelona,
NOT - Chelsea, or Man U
NOT - Real Madrid,
NOT - Bayern Munich!

You're on here saying this guy isn't good enough or that guy can't cut it.
Well have you stopped to think that maybe they look at the proposition of coming here and think exactly the same thing?
For cryin' out loud, can't we get some people on here who've had an original thought or two, like. . . hey look at this guy, he'd be good because he brings this to the table or that to the table. Any muppet can complain.

To those out there in the past couple of days who weren't **** and moaning and there were a few with legit, intelligent thoughts, please excuse my rant.

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smithy, st helens says...
2:09pm Fri 19 Oct 07

If i was in Phil Gartside's shoes i would definitly be looking at John Collins but as i'am not we will probably get Chris Coleman or some medeoker manager.

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Marlow-white, Marlow says...
2:09pm Fri 19 Oct 07

This is getting embarrassing. Negative public responses from approaches for Bruce, Coleman and now Megson. Yet again Gartside and Board need to answer urgent questions. Why was no forethought put into sacking LSL? The results didn't suddenly go bad. We should have had a top class manager lined up as replacement. Why are we aiming so low with target managers? This is a great club that should be aiming much higher, we are the laughing stock of the football world. Please please Gartside move over and let someone more qualified and more passionate take the club forward again. We need to start acting like a proud club that has consistantly finished in top half of the Premiership not one that has limited ambition.

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Only one Andy Walker, London says...
2:16pm Fri 19 Oct 07

I've got the feeling Gartside is going to let us down again. Please NOT coleman jewell bruce or megson!

If they had nobody in line to replace sammy then maybe lsl should have stayed on. At least he finally dropped speed and nolan. We have a bit more energy in midfield without them two. Nolan could however be a super sub if he gets back to his scoring ways. It might have to be long balls, free kicks and scrapping to get a result on saturday though.

Lets get behind Archie Knox and the boys and have another good performance against the Arse end.


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jay, bolton says...
2:23pm Fri 19 Oct 07

well done Gartside, sacking LSL seemed to be the right thing to do but now its looking wrong after approaching 3 clubs and being told get stuffed basically! Just a thought but maybe have a manager in line before sacking someone then making BWFC look sh1t by being told sod off by clubs below us and smaller than us!!! If Gartside was actually sure of who he wanted to manage us next, being told `no` you cant speak to him means nothing as he should be offering the other club compo and pushing the issue! Not many chairmen get permission to speak to other clubs managers yet 90% of them seem to get there man! Having said that im glad Birmingham, leicester and real soc have said no cos i dont want any of them 3 managing us! As it looks like he maybe out of a job soon a big wage offer could temp Venables maybe? Very doubtfull but a great manager!

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MeForManager, Bolton says...
2:23pm Fri 19 Oct 07

The board are turning is into a laughing stock.

I have never seen such mismanagement. When Big Sam went we were an established top 8 premier league side. That made us attractive to most managers across europe. IF we had advertised the job and taken time in making a decision we could have ended up with a great manager. Instaed we gavew it so a man with no experience.

And now, instead of learning and advertising the job we are running round approaching 1st disvision shitkicker after 1st division shitkicker.

Typical BWFC...the ride is over ladies and gents, I hope you enjoyed it. If you havent got your ticket to Belgrade get it quick, we will NEVER play in europe again.

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Durks, Brockhall says...
2:24pm Fri 19 Oct 07

Do you think it is possible for Mr Gartside to drag this football club name and reputation any lower? The desperation with which he is chasing around looking for a manager is shocking to me. Bolton Wanderers are in this mess due to decisions made by Mr Gartside in his position as Chairman when Big Sam declared his intention to leave. From that point on, Mr Gartside has made knee jerk and bad decisions one after the other including the statement he made about Big Sam and the appointment of LSL. In any other business a Chairman that had publicly humiliated the company would resign. There is no chance of Mr Gartside doing the honourable thing of course so we will push on and I am sure he will find the least expensive manager available or maybe he will pay a lot of money for little ability. In my opinion Mr Gartside you have compromised the well being of Bolton Wanderers Football Club

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smithy, st helens says...
2:25pm Fri 19 Oct 07

Looking at it to bring a top manager he'd want top money to speng and Gartside and co just don't do that.more of the same BEG STEAL AND BORROW.

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charnersbwfc, Adlington says...
2:28pm Fri 19 Oct 07

Reports suggest Paul Jewell has already been into Bolton, if this is so, why are we still going after other targets. Has he not impressed the Board or is it that we are looking at other options aswell.....

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mighty boosh, astley bridge says...
2:43pm Fri 19 Oct 07

Alder Brownstone wrote:
At least the club appears to be taking their time and looking at all available options rather than just rushing into this. Hopefully it's something they have learnt from appointing LSL. Rumour has it Hoddle will be approached and an approach for Steve Coppell was turned down also.
not rushing????? slee sacked/quit wed speak to b/ham about bruce thurs,off to sociadad thurs neet to speak to coleman!!!! that seems like rushing/ or panicing/plucking at straws to me!

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David, Westhoughton says...
2:47pm Fri 19 Oct 07

We maybe not Barca, Real, ManU etc but what is the problem with contacting the agents of managers like Capello, Houllier etc and asking if they are interested... They can only say YES or NO... We play in the supposedly best league in the world, we are in europe, we have a couple of the outstanding players in europe playing for the team, surely bringing in a big name manager wouldn't be that much of a problem, it also may spark players who are out of contract soon or are looking at leaving to rethink there positions!!

My vote is for HOULLIER or Ruud...

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mighty boosh, astley bridge says...
2:48pm Fri 19 Oct 07

isnt fabio capello kicking his heels,at the moment?? i know hes used to a more high profile team,but it must be better than gardening!

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lord kangana, Bolton says...
2:54pm Fri 19 Oct 07

neon wrote:
Heaven help me. There are some people on here who are just flat out, brain-addled morons. Can't you get it into your thick skulls that we are Bolton Wanderers. NOT - F. C. Barcelona, NOT - Chelsea, or Man U NOT - Real Madrid, NOT - Bayern Munich! You're on here saying this guy isn't good enough or that guy can't cut it. Well have you stopped to think that maybe they look at the proposition of coming here and think exactly the same thing? For cryin' out loud, can't we get some people on here who've had an original thought or two, like. . . hey look at this guy, he'd be good because he brings this to the table or that to the table. Any muppet can complain. To those out there in the past couple of days who weren't **** and moaning and there were a few with legit, intelligent thoughts, please excuse my rant.
Don't see many suggestions there.

Hardly the attitude that tempted Jay-Jay, Youri, Campo, Hierro, Gudjohnson, Bobic, Anelka, Diouf........I could go on.

We are a team that is in Europe, has consistently been the best performing team outside the top 4 for about 5 seasons, and has just recieved a lottery style payout from the new Sky money.

Its a fact that we can afford to pay our players more than the likes of Celtic and Rangers and a whole host of mid-to-large European clubs because of our status in the English premier League.

Small club we may be, but 'punching above our weight' hasn't happened by a miracle.

LKAFG

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harwood white, harwood says...
2:56pm Fri 19 Oct 07

hi, i've just got back from two weeks in florida. anything happened?

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neon, Greenville, SC says...
2:58pm Fri 19 Oct 07

David - My point wasn't that we shouldn't contact them. We should.
I was just pointing out that we are only big enough to attract a manager near the top of the profession but not big enough to draw the really huge names.

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Phil Neal, southport says...
3:00pm Fri 19 Oct 07

harwood white wrote:
hi, i've just got back from two weeks in florida. anything happened?
all quiet here

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ste1982, bolton says...
3:02pm Fri 19 Oct 07

With my extensive and illustrious champ manager career and Phil Gartsides desperation, I'm sending my cv in. With myself being absolutely hopeless and on the cheap I think I'm well in with a good shout!!

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Phil Neal, southport says...
3:05pm Fri 19 Oct 07

My vote at this stage of the season would be let's get TERRY VENEBLES in till the end of the season then use the pre-summer to carryout interviews in a more appropiate fasion giving the board more time to make the RIGHT decision.

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David, Westoughton says...
3:11pm Fri 19 Oct 07

You are never to big or small to get the best people. Like Lord Kangana says we got Jay-Jay, Youri, Campo, Hierro, Gudjohnson, Bobic, Anelka, Diouf into the club why couldn't we get the likes of a Houllier, Capello, Del Busque, Gullit into the club. If we were paying a half witt back stabbing bung taking idiot a million a year why couldn't we go that extra mile a spend a little more on a QUALITY manager... with a proven record domestically, europe and in some cases internationally...

I don't think we need another he will keep us up manager we need a he will keep us up in the europe spots, challenge for a trophy and bring back the fans to the club manager.

I'd even go into the controversial and say take Mclaren off England's hands for them.... as a last resort of course...

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Gareth Jones, Oz says...
3:12pm Fri 19 Oct 07

When Phil Gartside originally appointed Sam Allardyce as Bolton manager, it was an inspirational choice. He reached down into the lower leagues and found the right man. Unfortunately, that inspiration has not been on show of late. None of the managerial candidates so far are right for Bolton. My choice would be to take a punt on Paul Ince. Yes, he's managing in the lower leagues, but he has the force of character, charisma and respect to do the job. I know to some this might seem a gamble and Ince does lack top flight managerial experience, but at least it's a creative choice, and he'd be hungry for success.

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Tim D, Bolton fan living in Blackburn says...
3:13pm Fri 19 Oct 07

I guess we are all entitled to an opinion but some of the names linked with Bolton are quite shocking. The likes Graeme (Happy Bas**rd) Souness, Gary Megson and even Steve Bruce and Chris Coleman worry me enormously.
The Steve Coppell appointment is one that I could go with although there are some suggestions that he is an "uphill gardener" !

If we cannot get the right manager in at this stage let's put Archie Knox and Gary Speed in as caretakers and take our time to assess the options. I know we have to start picking up points but I suspect we will see a big improvement in team morale now LSL has been removed. Those players who had issue with him will surely now start to burst their balls to make up for their sub-par performances so far ( I am referring to Nolan, Speed, Jussi to name but three).

Come on you whites. Gartside please think big !!

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birch, chorley says...
3:24pm Fri 19 Oct 07

Tim D wrote:
I guess we are all entitled to an opinion but some of the names linked with Bolton are quite shocking. The likes Graeme (Happy Bas**rd) Souness, Gary Megson and even Steve Bruce and Chris Coleman worry me enormously. The Steve Coppell appointment is one that I could go with although there are some suggestions that he is an "uphill gardener" ! If we cannot get the right manager in at this stage let's put Archie Knox and Gary Speed in as caretakers and take our time to assess the options. I know we have to start picking up points but I suspect we will see a big improvement in team morale now LSL has been removed. Those players who had issue with him will surely now start to burst their balls to make up for their sub-par performances so far ( I am referring to Nolan, Speed, Jussi to name but three). Come on you whites. Gartside please think big !!
Archie knox is a joke, he is part of the dead wood that needs stripping out of the club. I have herd that a senior player said if he is cartaker on saturday then we will get stuffed, the reason we got rid of lee is because he lost the players respect and by putting that joke in as cartaker we are no better off!

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Nik, London says...
3:26pm Fri 19 Oct 07

I would take a risk on Youri if we could persuade him to have a crack - everyone respects him, we all love him and I think he might just rub a bit of his gallic insouciance off on the club, town and supporters. That or he'd be a total disaster and see us relegated but there's always a risk to these things.

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Tel, bolton says...
3:26pm Fri 19 Oct 07

Please among all them names mentioned i hope souness does,nt get within sniffing distance of the reebok. the mans a jonah..

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Cumbria White, Cumbria says...
3:28pm Fri 19 Oct 07

I don't think any major name manager would come to Bolton for fear of ruining there reputation, it takes a long time to get a good reputation, but only a short time to ruin it.

Also, no transfer funds, which has always been the case historically, will not tempt any established name.

Our only option is to go for a new hungry manager working his way up, maybe Collins or Ince but no one being mentioned gives any confidence.

The other possibility is that Souness could try and buy the club as he has done with other clubs, and then install himself as manager or director of football and install someone he likes as manager.

As for complaints about lack of foresight by Gartside, how would it have looked if he started sounding out managers with Sammy still in charge, that wouldn't have won him any admirers or endeared him to potential new managers.

Nearly everybody who wanted Sammy out have got their way and are now complaining about the recruitment of his successor, I'm afraid we will get the manager we deserve.

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