Jewell in frame for Bolton manager job

Bolton Wanderers parted company with manager Sammy Lee by "mutual consent" on Wednesday and former Wigan boss Paul Jewell is the bookmakers' early favourite.

Lee had been promoted from assistant manager to Sam Allardyce but when Allardyce left to be manager of Newcastle in April, the 48-year-old former Liverpool winger was given the opportunity to step up in his first managerial appointment.

Bolton suffered a difficult start to the season - the Trotters are second from bottom of the Premier League with just one league win so far this season - and there was constant criticism of his coaching skills after he first dropped club captain Kevin Nolan from the first team and then relieved Gary Speed of his coaching responsibilities with the team.

"This has been a difficult decision for all parties but we have agreed the time is right," Bolton chairman Phil Gartside told the club's website. "Sammy has played an important role in the club's recent football history and we wish him well for the future.
 
Gartside will now turn his efforts to finding a replacement quickly as Bolton close in on their Uefa Cup games and one name is already leading the betting. Jewell is the early jolly at a best-priced 5/4 with VCBet. He has the experience of managing in the Premier League plus the knowledge of how to get out of the relegation zone that the club find themselves in.

Chris Coleman is also being well backed as the former Fulham boss who is currently managing Real Sociedad in Spain is thought to want a return to English football. He is available at 10/1 with Blue Square. Speed who perhaps more than most won't mind seeing the back of Lee, is 16/1 with Totesport.

Bolton have made it through to the group stages of the Uefa Cup and face challenging games against Uefa Cup favourites Bayern Munich, Red Star Belgrade, Aris Thessaloniki and SC Braga. But the role is sure to attract some more big names after Allardyce made the midlands club into a force to be reckoned with.