New Bolton boss Gary Megson admits he is "not Alex Ferguson or Jose Mourinho" - but insists he can be proud of his record in management.
Megson was officially unveiled at the Reebok Stadium on Friday afternoon and will take charge of the team for the first time against Aston Villa on Sunday.
And the former Leicester boss got a taste of what to expect from the Trotters fans before Thursday's UEFA Cup match with Braga, which ended in a disappointing 1-1 draw.
Megson went outside the stadium before the match to front up to some of those angered at his appointment.
He said: "I thought I would have a chat and see what's what. So I spoke to a few supporters. I am not Alex Ferguson, I am not Jose Mourinho. The red carpet is not going to be rolled out straight away. But I would like to think I have heart, desire and enthusiasm. I went out to tell them all of those things. I am honest, I work hard and give it everything I have got. I say what I think and that can upset people."
Megson is proud of his record as a manager even though former European Cup winners Nottingham Forest were relegated to the third tier for the first time under his stewardship.
"I want to prove myself everywhere I go," he said. "My record, although never in the upper echelons of the Premier League, has been at some very good clubs. All of them are better than when I joined and that includes Forest. As for this being my last chance, I was asked the same question at Leicester. But you never know what is around the corner."
Megson has confirmed that Archie Knox will remain on the coaching staff, adding: "I do not want to make massive changes, certainly not straight away."
27 October 2007
The football agent Mark Curtis, who was appointed as a "headhunter" by Bolton Wanderers and charged with finding them a new manager, has denied having a conflict of interest in that he represents Gary Megson, the successful candidate, reports The Guardian.
"I am not Gary Megson's agent," Curtis said. "I know that Gary took another agent into Bolton with him [to negotiate his contract] this morning. I think he used Mickey Walsh, who he has known for 10 years."
Wanderers chairman Phil Gartside issued a statement on Bolton's website spelling out Curtis's role, in which he stressed that Curtis did not act as the agent of "anyone on our target list".
On Tuesday Graeme Souness said he had withdrawn from the race to succeed Lee because he "could not believe" Curtis was involved in the recruitment process and had sat in when Gartside interviewed him for the post last week.
Curtis, speaking from abroad, said: "I came in at Leicester to help Gary as a friend with the contract negotiations after they had approached Gary and offered him the job."
26 October 2007
Bolton chairman Phil Gartside insists new manager Gary Megson will have the full support of the dressing room.
Megson has signed a two-and-a-half year deal after controversially leaving Leicester just six weeks into the role.
Sammy Lee's successor watched the 1-1 UEFA Cup draw with Braga anfd will take charge of the team for the first time on Sunday when they face Aston Villa.
While many Bolton supporters are questioning the appointment, Gartside believes Megson can lift the players - and the club off the foot of the table.
He said: "We have made decisive decisions over the past few weeks and this is one of them. It is not about me, Gary Megson or any other individual. It is all about Bolton surviving in the Premier League. We have to be fully focused on the task ahead to make sure we achieve immediate success. I have spoken to the staff and the players and we are all committed to getting behind Gary and turning our fortunes around."
Gartside added: "We feel Gary is the right man to take Bolton forward. We have been able to interview a number of quality candidates and after due consideration decided to offer him the post. I have paid particular attention to his career and he has demonstrated to me he is prepared to roll his sleeves up. He has the right temperament for a battle, which this season is undoubtedly going to be."
Bolton had to settle for a point after El-Hadji Diouf stepped off the bench to put the home team in front in their first game in the group stages.
But the Portuguese side responded and substitute Jailson grabbed the equaliser with four minutes to go with a looping header.
25 October 2007
Coventry manager Iain Dowie is the early favourite to succeed Gary Megson as Leicester boss, who is poised to join Bolton.
Megson's shock departure was confirmed on Wednesday evening, after Foxes chairman Milan Mandaric reluctantly allowed him to speak to the Premier League club.
Now Leicester will have to find their third manager of the season, and their fifth boss in six months, with Dowie being linked as the man who could fill the hot seat.
Reports claim the former Crystal Palace boss is getting frustrated with life with the Sky Blues, who had a transfer embargo slapped on them earlier this week.
Former Leicester defender and Blackpool boss Simon Grayson, ex-Wigan manager Paul Jewell and England Under-21 coach Stuart Pearce have also been mentioned as possible candidates.
25 October 2007
Gary Megson looks set to fill Bolton's vacant managerial position after parting company with Leicester.
The 48 year-old had only been at the Walkers stadium for six weeks.
Foxes chairman Milan Mandaric eventually bowed to Megson's wishes to open talks with Bolton after twice rejecting approaches from the club.
24 October 2007
Dundee United's Barry Robson fears it is only a matter of time before a big club moves in for Tangerines boss Craig Levein.
Levein will mark 12 months in his job at Tannadice next week and has already dragged the team he inherited sitting bottom of the SPL table to fourth in the league, having recorded their best start to a season since 1993.
United, who host Rangers on Sunday, have battled with relegation more often than not over the last decade but look almost certain to finally break into the top six - if not the top four - this season.
The Tangerines' remarkable turnaround has ensured Levein's stock has steadily risen, so the former Hearts and Leicester manager, who led the Jambos to third place in 2003, is likely to be shortlisted for future vacancies around the country.
He was considered for the Scotland position following Walter Smith's departure to Rangers but, even though he missed out on that occasion, Robson is worried bigger clubs will start circling.
He said: "The manager has been here for nearly a year now and we've improved steadily all the time. I knew the minute he walked in the door that he was excellent and he has proved it over the last 12 months. He is very shrewd tactically, has got us organised and has improved every player. He commands respect because he has done it all in the game as a player. It's going to be difficult to keep him at Tannadice because I wouldn't be surprised if a bigger club tried to take him away. Hopefully that won't happen because we love working with him but the fact he has done so well won't be going unnoticed. He was linked with the Scotland job and that wasn't a surprise because of how good he is. We want to hang onto him but it wouldn't be a shock if someone big came calling."
Levein is renowned for pushing his players hard and will not allow standards to slip.
Robson was on the receiving end of a blast during the recent game with Falkirk but insists his manager's will to win is one of his biggest strengths.
He added: "We had a bit of a fall-out during one of the games but it was nothing. It doesn't matter who you are, what you are or where you are with the manager - if he has got something to say he will just say it. I think he would even go through the chairman! I've got great respect for him and get on great for him. He's a winner and so am I and so are the rest of the lads so we all work well together. He works on little things and in the end it adds up to a lot. He has improved me because he is so thorough, we watch videos of how we play and after it he goes over what I could have done better and also what I did well. It's all very positive and he does that for every player so I think all the lads would agree that they have improved."
Robson added: "He has got a really good eye for a player and has made some great signings for basically nothing, guys like Morgaro Gomis and Prince (Buaben) as well as the Irish boys so everything is going really well at the club."
Goalkeeper Lukasz Zaluska has learned that his metatarsal injury is almost healed and will begin to increase his workload over the next few weeks.
19 October 2007
Bolton have had their approach for Leicester manager Gary Megson rejected by the Championship club.
The Premier League club parted company with manager Sammy Lee on Wednesday following a poor start to the season, with Wanderers sitting second from bottom with just one win from nine games.
Bolton have already failed in their attempt to talk to Birmingham boss Steve Bruce and have also approached Real Sociedad about Chris Coleman, according to the former Fulham manager's adviser Alan Smith.
And now they are also interested in Megson, who took over at the Walkers Stadium from Martin Allen in August.
Mandaric said in a statement: "Following widespread speculation in the media regarding Bolton Wanderers' interest in our manager Gary Megson I can confirm the Premier League club approached us early yesterday morning seeking official permission to speak to Gary. That approach has been completely rejected. Such interest and continuing media speculation has inevitably had an unsettling influence and is neither invited or welcome. I have worked tirelessly to bring stability to this club and showed immense faith in Gary to bring him here after a sustained period out of the game. While interest from a Premier League club appears flattering and vindicates my decision to bring Gary to the Walkers Stadium he remains an integral part of my plans to bring top flight football back to this club. I am a great believer in loyalty, trust and integrity. Gary made a commitment to this football club, the supporters and myself and I fully expect him to honour that commitment. I therefore have no doubts in my own mind that Gary will reiterate his commitment when he talks publicly in the next 48 hours. It is also important to point out that contrary to claims today, Gary Megson has not spoken to Bolton Wanderers and furthermore is bound by a legally binding contract at Leicester City Football Club."
Bolton have asked Real Sociedad for permission to speak to Coleman, according to Smith.
He 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 inquiry from another English club."
17 October 2007
Martin O'Neill has welcomed Patrik Berger and Craig Gardner back to full training but it is a mixed bag of news for the Villa boss.
On the downside, O'Neill has has admitted that Norwegian striker John Carew is unlikely to face Manchester United on Saturday (5.15pm) while Olof Mellberg's participation could be in doubt after he sustained a back injury on international duty with Sweden, which makes him an unlikely starter against Northern Ireland tonight.
Berger had suffered a recurrence of a hamstring injury that had ruled him out of the first seven weeks of the season following the 1-0 League Cup defeat to Leicester last month.
"Berger trained yesterday and did very well," O'Neill said today. "He didn't get long against Leicester and then suddenly bang. The injury was in exactly the same place but it definitely wasn't as severe as the first time. It had all the same symptoms but it wasn't the same severity. But he has come back. He didn't feel it yesterday, so that is really encouraging for him."
Berger has played just that 10 minutes against Leicester all season.
"It has been a frustrating time for him," added O'Neill. "He was flying at the back end of last year and all pre-season and then got injured the day before we kicked-off. That was a big set-back for him, particularly as he was doing very well. Now, if he makes anything like the impact he did last season I will be delighted. You know that he is capable of just making things happen."
Berger's likely return is pencilled in for Monday's home reserve clash against Chelsea.
O'Neill added: "We'll see how he is. I wouldn't rule him out."
14 October 2007
Robbie Savage has revealed he is concerned about his fitness as he is having problems with his recovery from his broken leg.
The Blackburn Rovers midfielder broke his leg last January against Watford which forced him out of action for six months.
Savage has made a successful return to action this season, but the injury is still niggling him.
The former Leicester man has been forced to limp out of three games this season after taking a knock the same leg and Savage concedes it is a worry for him.
"I had to go off last weekend because I got another whack on the shin. It's happening a lot," Savage told the Sunday Mirror.
Meanwhile, Rovers chairman John Williams has revealed the club are prepared to loan out unsettled striker Maceo Rigters.
Rigters has voiced his concern at his lack of first-team opportunities and his desire to go out on loan to gain some action.
Williams admits the club will discuss the possibility of loaning out the summer signing from NAC Breda.
"That's a discussion for Mark Hughes but it's a possibility. I know Mark is very happy with him, and he's happy at the club, but if it was felt that it was in the best interests of the players' development then we may consider it. We had numerous discussions about whether we should let Paul Gallagher go out on loan and we felt that it was, at least until January. It's just about grabbing opportunities and it's a consequence of having a good squad but also not having many injuries."
11 October 2007
Highly-regarded Sligo Rovers defender Seamus Coleman has been drafted into the Republic of Ireland under-21 squad for Friday evening's friendly international against Sweden.
Manager Don Givens called up three players after goalkeeper Shane Supple, defender Darren Dennehy, midfielder Keith Keane and forward Keith Treacy were all ruled out.
And Coleman is a welcome addition having turned in some stellar performances for Sligo in the eircom League of Ireland this season.
The other call-ups are for Bristol City goalkeeper Stephen Henderson, who has been a regular at under-19 level in the past, and Everton's Aidan Downes.
The squad arrived in Sweden on Wednesday night to prepare for Friday's friendly in Uppsala, while they will then return to Ireland for Tuesday night's European qualifier against England at Cork City's Turners Cross.
Republic of Ireland under-21 squad (v. Sweden, 12/10/2007):
Goalkeepers: Darren Randolph (Charlton Athletic), Shane Redmond (Nottingham Forest).
Defenders: Stephen O'Halloran (Aston Villa), Eddie Nolan (Blackburn Rovers), Darren O'Dea (Celtic), Alan Sheehan (Leicester City), Michael Spillane (Norwich City), Seamus Coleman (Sligo Rovers).
Midfielders: Darron Gibson (Manchester United), Stephen Quinn (Sheffield United), Owen Garvan (Ipswich Town), Alan Power (Nottingham Forest), Patrick Cregg (Falkirk), Aidan Downes (Everton).
Forwards: Billy Clarke (Ipswich Town), Anthony Stokes (Sunderland), Jim O'Brien (Celtic).
