Bolton Wanderers will feature in the third tier of English football as of the 2016/17 campaign and The Trotters are in desperate need to a manager that is capable of leading them back to the Championship at the first time of asking. Neil Lennon failed to inspire confidence at the Macron Stadium and the Northern Irishman left the club by ‘mutual consent' on March 15th.
And now Bolton are tasked with the job of finding a new manager. Fortunately, the Wanderers job is now a lot more appealing than it was twelve months ago and supporters are quietly confident of Bolton's chances ahead of the upcoming campaign.
We took a look at three potential candidates for the vacant Bolton job and consider which appointment is the most likely as the Wanderers prepare for a promotion fight.
Phil Brown
As the new campaign approaches, keep an eye on the new manager market at Coral and back Phil Brown to take over at the Macron Stadium. On paper, it is a perfect fit. Brown knows the club inside out and even had a brief stint as caretaker boss at the end of the 1999 campaign. Back then, he was inexperienced but now he possesses the skillset to take Bolton back to the second tier of English football.
The former Bolton player has an affinity to the club and for that reason, he might be tempted by the prospect of leading the Wanderers next season. Southend are struggling to inspire confidence right now and Brown could look for a move as he attempts to reignite his managerial career.
Nigel Adkins
Nigel Adkins has been sacked by three different clubs in the last four seasons - not a great record if truth be told. However, his mould and personality fit the bill to manage at Bolton and it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see the former Southampton boss at the Macron in August.
While this appointment wouldn't be universally liked, he could be the right man for the job. Adkins' former club Sheffield United will be one of the leading contenders to win the League One title next season and punters can keep up to date with the latest news, odds and gossip at Coral's website. If nothing else, Adkins would love to lead Bolton to the crown whilst sending a strong message to his previous employers.
Alan Stubbs
The Hibernian boss has led the Scottish side to a relatively successful season but he might be willing to accept a move to England after failing to take the club back to the Scottish Premiership. Stubbs was a superb footballer back in his heyday and there's absolutely no reason to suggest why he wouldn't be a great fit for Bolton Wanderers, especially if he is willing to sign a long-term deal and build the club up from scratch.
Stubbs might be slightly inexperienced but he's gutsy and his general persona would appeal to Bolton's avid fan base. The Wanderers aren't a shoo-in to come straight back up to the Championship but, with an aggressive head coach like Stubbs in control, they might challenge for one of the playoff spots and could get lucky.