Bolton's Manager Search - Five Alternatives to Phil Brown

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?