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Bolton's Manager Search - Five Alternatives to Phil Brown

Aside from Phil Brown, who else could Bolton look at as their new manager?

Pete Norton/Getty Images

So, after 18 months in charge of Bolton Wanderers, Neil Lennon has gone. Jimmy Phillips has been given the job until the end of the season, but who will take charge next season?

The clear favourite is former Wanderer Phil Brown. Six years as a player and ten years as a coach, it's not hard to see why Brown is the bookies favourite at 4/7. And with Brown doing such a stellar job with Southend, it makes sense.

But, Southend's chairman has already been very vocal on turning down any of Bolton's advances. So, if Bolton can't get Phil Brown, who else is there?

Here are five alternatives to Phil Brown for the manager's role:

Chris Wilder

Northampton Town's manager, 48 year old Chris Wilder, has done an exceptional job at the Sixfields Stadium. Back in December, the club were close to liquidation, but luckily they got new owners just like Bolton did. On the pitch, Northampton have reigned supreme this season and are currently top of League 2, with 79 points from 36 games. Wilder has also been named League 2 Manager of the Month for both January and February 2016.

Team From To Record
P W D L Win %
Halifax Town 2 July 2002 30 June 2008 312 120 77 115 38.5
Oxford United 21 December 2008 26 January 2014 269 121 70 78 45.0
Northampton Town 27 January 2014 Present 116 56 23 37 48.3
Total 697 297 170 230 42.6

Michael Appleton

Oxford United manager Michael Appleton is another alternative choice for Bolton. The former Blackburn Rovers and Blackpool FC manager has taken Oxford from mid table to the automatic promotion places in less than two years. I wouldn't mind if Appleton convinced Kemar Roofe to follow him to the Macron as well. The 40 year old recently turned down the role of academy boss at Manchester United.

Team From To Record
G W D L Win %
West Bromwich Albion (caretaker) 6 February 2011 12 February 2011 1 0 1 0 0.00
Portsmouth 10 November 2011 7 November 2012 51 13 11 27 25.49
Blackpool 7 November 2012 11 January 2013 12 2 8 2 16.67
Blackburn Rovers 11 January 2013 19 March 2013 15 4 5 6 26.67
Oxford United 4 July 2014 Present 101 44 30 27 43.56
Total 180 63 55 62 35.00

Paul Tisdale

After a six year spell with Team Bath, the University of Bath's football team, professional hat wearer Paul Tisdale joined Exeter City in June 2006. In nearly ten years at St James Park, Tisdale has taken Exeter City from the Conference to League 1. Exeter find themselves currently in League 2, but the 2nd longest serving manager in English football has done a steady job. Along the way, Tisdale was named League 2 manager of the year in 2009, and was also named by the Daily Mirror as the best dressed football manager in 2013.

Team From To Record
P W D L Win %
Exeter City 26 June 2006 Present 504 186 135 183 36.9
Total 504 186 135 183 36.9

Nigel Pearson

Probably the most famous name in this list. After a less than successful spell in charge of Southampton FC, Nigel Pearson made his name as manager of Leicester City. After becoming manager in 2008, Pearson guided Leicester to the League 1 title. The season after, Leicester finished 5th in the Championship. Pearson then left to join Hull City in 2010, before returning to Leicester just over a year later in November 2011. Pearson then guided Leicester to the Play-Offs in 2013, before winning the Championship in 2014. Pearson then kept Leicester in the Premier League last season in extraordinary circumstances, helping the Foxes go from 20th to 14th in the last 10 games of the season. Now without a club, Pearson would certainly be a strong option for Bolton.

Team From To Record
G W D L Win %
Carlisle United 17 December 1998 17 May 1999 30 5 13 12 16.66
West Bromwich Albion(caretaker) 18 September 2006 16 October 2006 4 3 1 0 75.00
England U21 (caretaker) 24 March 2007 25 March 2007 1 0 1 0 00.00
Newcastle United (caretaker) 6 May 2007 15 May 2007 1 0 1 0 00.00
Newcastle United (caretaker) 9 January 2008 16 January 2008 2 1 0 1 50.00
Southampton 18 February 2008 30 May 2008 14 3 7 4 21.43
Leicester City 20 June 2008 29 June 2010 107 55 30 22 51.40
Hull City 29 June 2010 15 November 2011 64 23 20 21 35.94
Leicester City 15 November 2011 30 June 2015 182 85 38 59 46.70
Total 405 175 112 118 43.21

Steve Cotterill

The final alternative is former Burnley, Notts County, Portsmouth, Nottingham Forest and Bristol City manager, Steve Cotterrill. Cotterill has had plenty of success as a manager. He guided Notts County to the League 2 title in 2010, and then guided Bristol City to the League 1 title and the JPT trophy last season. Cotterill has also received five manager of the month awards.

Team From To Record
G W D L Win %
Cheltenham Town 1 February 1997 27 May 2002 255 118 70 67 46.27
Stoke City 27 May 2002 10 October 2002 13 3 5 5 23.08
Burnley 3 June 2004 8 November 2007 161 55 50 56 34.16
Notts County 23 February 2010 27 May 2010 18 14 3 1 77.78
Portsmouth 18 June 2010 14 October 2011 61 18 17 26 29.51
Nottingham Forest 14 October 2011 12 July 2012 37 12 7 18 32.43
Bristol City 3 December 2013 14 January 2016 116 53 35 28 45.69
Total 661 273 187 201 41.30

So, there you have it. Who would you choose to be Bolton's next manager?