Source: Daily_Mail
Megson is OUT at Bolton Wanderers... but the problem is nobody wants IN
[LNB]Sacked: Gary Megson[LNB]Having been preparingfor the departure of Gary Megson seemingly since the day he arrived, Bolton are already finding it may not be so easy to replace him.[LNB]Megson lost his job yesterday when the weight of public opinion finally persuaded chairman Phil Gartside to pull the trigger. [LNB]The former Nottingham Forest and West Bromwich Albion managerdeparted with Bolton in the Barclays Premier League's bottom three and having seen his team surrender a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with fellow relegation candidatesHull at the Reebok Stadium on Tuesday. [LNB]Last night, however, the list of possible replacements for Megson was noteable more for those who were quick to rule themselves out than those who were ready to put their hand up for the job. [LNB]Perhaps the ideal replacement would be Mark Hughes, a man who performed wonders on a small budget up the M65 at Blackburn. [LNB]However, Sportsmail understands the former Manchester City boss, sacked only two weeks ago at Eastlands,is not interested in the job. [LNB]A similarly attractive candidate is Burnley manager Owen Coyle, who was actually recommended to the Lancashire club by Bolton chairman Gartside two years ago. [LNB]Burnley have already indicated they would not allow Bolton to speak to the Scot, though, and last night Coyle told friends he felt it would be inappropriate to move to a neighbouring club when he is conducting what looks like being a tough battle to keep Burnley in the top flight. [LNB] Count me out: Mark Hughes[LNB]Early yesterdayafternoon there was a flurry of bets on Paul Jewell taking the job after the former Wigan and Derby manager was spotted by TV cameras at the Reebok on Tuesday night.[LNB]However, it emerged last night that Jewell was at the game as a guest of Megson and he was quick to rule out the possibility of replacing his friend. [LNB]Jewell said: 'I find it embarrassingas I was at the Hull game with my son as a guest of Gary. There was no ulterior motive.[LNB]'I just thought it would be an interesting game to watch. I am not one of those managers who sits in the stands to be seen or to put any kind of pressure on other managers.'[LNB]With three promisingreplacements out of the frame, the spotlight falls on names like Peter Reid, Alan Curbishley and Darren Ferguson.[LNB]Reid, a popular Bolton player in the late 70s and early 80s, would love the chance.[LNB] He is Tony Pulis's assistant at Stoke. However, he feels he would not be Gartside's preferred choice given his friendshipwith former manager Sam Allardyce, who left in acrimonious circumstances two years ago.[LNB] Furious: Fan power forced Megson out[LNB]Curbishley is ready to return to work after settling his compensationdispute with West Ham but the former Charlton boss has never managed outside London.[LNB] Fergusonis promising after a successful start to his career at Peterborough but the son of Manchester United manager Sir Alex lacks experience. [LNB]Sympathy will be thin on the ground if Bolton struggle to replace Megson, a hard-working manager who is popular within the game. Having arrived at the club in October2007, he had to pick up the pieces of Sammy Lee's disastrous reign. [LNB]He kept Bolton in the top flight that season and achieved it again in his only full campaign in charge in 2008-09. [LNB]However, spoiled by the success of Allardyce's reign, when the club played in the UEFA Cup, fans never accepted Megson and a campaignto oust him launched on the day he arrived finally bore fruit yesterday.[LNB] Contenders: Curbishley (left), Reid (centre) and Jewell[LNB][LNB]Megson's decisions were booed throughout Tuesday's game and, after Hull came from behind with two late goals, Gartside decided it was time for a change. [LNB]Bolton have been relatively successfulaway this season but home performances undermined everythingMegson was trying to do. [LNB]He is already being lined up as a possible manager of Sheffield Wednesday, but whether he will want to return to management so soon remains to be seen.[LNB] Megson tells angry Bolton fans: Taking off Klasnic was the right thing to do THE 2009/10 SACK RACE: You're fired! Ousted Bolton boss Gary Megson takes managerial casualty list to 26 THE FIRING LINE: We're braced for a tight Christmas as Gary Megson, Phil Brown and Mick McCarthy fight for their jobs Gary Megson sacked by Bolton after fans call for boss to be booted outJewell, Ferguson, Hughes, Speed or Coppell? Sportsmail's 10 names in the hat to be the new Bolton boss [LNB]
