GARY Megson has been sacked as Bolton manager with immediate effect.
The 50-year-old leaves the Reebok Stadium with Wanderers 18th in the Barclays Premier League. His final game was last night's 2-2 draw at home to Hull.
A club statement read: "The decision has been taken in the light of the position the club finds itself in the Barclays Premier League at the halfway point of the season.
"Assistant manager Chris Evans and first-team coach Steve Wigley will take charge of first-team matters for the interim period."
Megson's departure is unlikely to be lamented by the Bolton support.
Even though he helped save the club from relegation when he took over after an ill-fated stint by Sammy Lee in 2007, the Trotters faithful have never warmed to a man dubbed 'the Ginger Mourinho'.
Megson could see the writing on the wall after the game against Hull City on Tuesday night.
After being turned on by the fans, he said: "Sometimes you just can't win in management. We recently beat Sunderland away 4-1 and fans were complaining we didn't keep a clean sheet.
"My substitutions have paid off on some occasions and not on others, which has been another point of complaint for some disgruntled supporters."
Unsustainable
Countless times he was forced to deflect attention on himself away from the team, insisting the fan reaction was not having an impact.
But chairman Phil Gartside knew that situation was unsustainable over the long-term and, after tossing away a two-goal lead at the Reebok Stadium last night, has decided to act.
With an FA Cup tie against lowly Lincoln looming on Saturday, followed by a Premier League trip to Arsenal next Wednesday, it is not as if Bolton have any breathing space to take stock.
Evans and Wigley will take temporary charge, although whether Gartside appoints either man on a full-time basis is open to doubt given the disaster that unfolded when he appointed Lee from Allardyce's backroom team.
As the news of the sacking broke, several names emerged as the likely contenders to become the new Trotters manager, including Mark Hughes, Peter Reid, Darren Ferguson, Gareth Southgate, Paul Jewell and Alan Curbishley.
Burnley manager Owen Coyle has ruled himself out of contention for the post.
Fred Done has been quick off the mark in offering the following odds on the 'runners and riders' to take over from Megson at Bolton.
Megson became the Premier League’s third managerial casualty of the season this morning and the fans who have consistently called for him to be axed are looking to see Mark Hughes installed as the new boss.
The ex Manchester City chief is at 3-1 with Dones, followed by Paul Jewell (7-2), Darren Ferguson (6-1), Alan Curbishley (8-1), Steve Coppell (8-1), Gareth Southgate (16-1), Peter Reid (20-1), Iain Dowie (25-1) and Peter Taylor (25-1)
Who do you think should replace Megson? Have your say on our online vote.
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If you look through the list of available managers only 'Sparky' is any good...the rest are just rubbish and done nothing for any club...
Big Sam back to Bolton, Mark Hughes back to Blackburn.
Never got a fair crack of the whip, there fans are like Charlton Athletic, Ipswhich Town etc a couple of decent finishes in the prem and they expect European football every season. Do you not realize you have been fighting well above your weight. Attendances shouldn't drop just because you don't like the manager and style of play. You should support Bolton Wanderers Football Club thru thick and thin.
They say it is players who get you the sack, one player who must be the prime candidate is Johan Elmander,for the sort of money that Bolton paid for him he has been abysmal.I don't think that Mark Hughes would consider taking a job just yet until his compensation from City is agreed,even then no disrespect to Bolton intended it would be a huge backward step taking the Bolton job.
I don't care, ANYONE is better than Megson.
Not heard Bacon Face rant on about Bolton yet? Is he going to spit his dummey out, like he did Hughes?
Thought so.
Hull City fan here...we have a funny habit of getting opposition managers the sack it seems!
Careful what you wish for Bolton fans. Charlton Athletic fans ran out of patience with Curbishley, called for his head, got him sacked, then promptly dropped 2 divisions. I can see the same happening to your club.
Benitez!
FACT :-)
Lets be honest here, Hughes will not go to Bolton. They have never shelled out on a decent manager, never will, Gartside and Davies are too tight.
Who had heard of Todd, Rioch or Allardyce when they went to Bolton?
Gartside will appoint another journeyman or someone new into management = CHEAP.
I am a life long Bolton fan who has stopped going watching since Megson took over. It has been awful. Never mind this "thick and thin" malarky. It has been downright depressing. Trust a red to come out with rubbish like that - at least we did not start a breakaway club when we did not like who was running the place! "thick and thin" my eye!
I believe we have to either get Allardyce back, or opt for someone with less experience, such as Shearer. My choice would be Bruce Rioch to be honest. Think he is at Arsenal.
Being realistic, we'll end up with Dowie, Coppell, B Davies or Reid. Oh joy!
Mark will bide his time but will be back!
The old back heel M11
typical city fan completely missed the point, City had a manager in place a fortnight before they sacked Hughes and by the morning of the Sunderland game it was common knowledge that Mancini had been appointed. In this case Bolton have appointed a caretaker manager from within whilst they look for a new manager, total different scenerio. But as i stated a city fan would not understand that, I also note that Bellamy will be off in January, with his comments the other day about the results and saying that Hughes had already stated they will get 9 points from the same game.
Next you will say that Denis Law got United relegated in 1974, don't let the facts get in the way of a good story, your owner now looking at a proper football team Real Madrid, hope he doesn't leave you in debt.
Looking forward to Lineaker and Shearer's condemnation of his sacking on MOTD.
Bolton doesn't deserve premier league football. Clubs like Hull get better crowds. Whoever the next manager is, he'll have to win European cups before the fans there accept and endorse him - even then they won't fill their ground or even 3/4 fill it.
For a brighter future switch to sparky
John, Breightmet
I see Chris Evans is taking charge of team affairs...so Wanderers replace one ginger clown with another...
i do feel sorry for Gary Megson in all this.Everytime I've seen him interviewed he has shown dignity and I'm not convinced the board have backed him.The fans certainly havn't and he has done a better job than Allardyce whose backroom staff would have made the Royal family envious.
knowall more like knownowt, you conveniently forgot the statement from Bellamy that he is going nowhere and is looking to sue the media source that said otherwise. You also decided to ignore the fact that Spanish football clubs are owned by the people and both Madrid and the Sheikh have rubbished the stories. Also Mr knownowt, we are completely debt-free, all monies spent has been a gift, whereas the Glazers have nicely ladened you with a £700m debt nest egg.
Could well be that Sparky is lined up but you would have to get a cheque book out big time. Also may be a bit of a wait to sort out his compensation from City unless Gartside underwrites this. Big step down for Sparky if took it on but the Prem is the Prem (just ask Avram Grant!).
Whoever it is must be a lot better football than under GM. Personally I like Jewell and Curbs and I wish all at the Reebok all the best for season.
Who would want to go to Bolton should be the first question. Unless you like sheep and pies you would stay well awy from a place populated by Yonners.
Actually you deserve Mark Hughes.
The Foam Ranger, Drowning in it, Bolton
30/12/2009 at 14:46
Seconded.
I wouldn't wish Hughes and his croanies on my worst enemy.
Good luck Bolton, it can't be easy on a shoestring budget . It's a shame that Megson couldn't cut it, unlike the waster we had at City. I really hope you don't get Hughes and his hangers on , unlike Ferguson with his ex-players all over the place, underperforming to the benefit of United.
Megson tried hard but never had the hearts of the fans.
As the plot thickens, people will soon realise that Mancini at City and all of the drama that went with the sacking of Hughes was really just a smokescreen to install Hughes and the Tafia at Bolton, ha ha.
Shhhhhhhhhh, can you hear it? the silence from OT, the press, Sky etc? Why no condemnation of this sacking then? Megson was only at Bolton a couple of months longer than Hughes was at City!! Surely this is too soon etc. HYPOCRITES, the lot of them!
Speaking as a City fan,whoever you get, I wish the Wanderers well. Sam Allardyce did a marvellous job wihout having huge sums to spend and I hope, if you don`t get him back, which I suppose is very unlikely, that your new manager will do a good job. I met Gary Megson once when he was with City`s opponents at Maine Road and he seemed a likeable man. It`s a pity he didn`t succeed for Bolton. We need all the Lancashire teams up in the top flight so here`s to a better second half of the season lads.
i would go for garath southgate,,he will keep you up.you dont want ex reds..