Bolton Wanderers: Time’s running out for Megson

Bolton Wanderers booked their place in the next round of the Carling Cup with an extra-time victory over West Ham United last night (Tuesday) but Gary Megson could guide the Trotters to Champions League success and that still wouldn’t get the fans off his back.

 

To say Gary Megson and the Bolton fans have a fraught relationship is an understatement. I’m pretty sure that if Hitler was brought back from the dead and stood in the middle of the pitch at the Reebok Stadium that he would get a better reception than Megson, but why? Megson hasn’t invaded neighbouring towns or killed millions of people in Bolton, well not that I’m aware of anyway.

 

When Phil Gartside announced that Megson would be replacing Sammy Lee at Bolton in 2007 the fans couldn’t believe their ears and they braced themselves for the drop. However, despite not being on the fans’ radar as a possible manager, the former West Brom and Nottingham Forest chief managed to keep Bolton in the top flight against all the odds. Last season was another struggle for the Trotters, but Megson, unlike during his time at the Hawthorns, managed to retain Bolton’s Premier League status. However, his position with the fans has never improved. If anything it just gets worse.

 

A large percentage of the Reebok fans just don’t like him and I think it’s fair to say that he doesn’t like a lot of those fans, but this situation is having an adverse effect on the whole club and there’s a feeling that it could all come to a head in the not so distant future. With huge games coming up against Birmingham City, Spurs, Manchester United, Everton, Chelsea and Blackburn Rovers, Megson faces a huge fight to hold on to his job.

 

David Blackburn, of the Bolton Wanderers Supporters Association, isn’t one to call for a manager’s head, but even he concedes that Megson may not be the right man for the club and understands the fans’ frustrations.

 

“I must admit as a Bolton fan that I have tried backing him all the way, after all I am a Bolton fan and obviously if he finished in the top half last season I would have backed him all the way, but even I am losing patience.

 

“I don't think he is the right man for the job. Yes he saved us from the drop, yes we have been spoilt in recent years, ie Europe, but he isn't what I call a Bolton man – pride and passion. The difference between him and Allardyce I think is that as an ex-player Allardyce knew what it meant to the Bolton public. Rioch gave us entertaining football, but Megson just doesn't do it for me. If Plan A doesn't work, Plan B seems to be Plan A again.

 

“Against Stoke, the fans knew 4-5-1 would not work but it took him until half time to work it out. On Saturday, it will be my first away game this season which is not like me and that says it all and I won’t be going to United as the thought of paying over £40 and watching us get hammered does not appeal to me.

 

“Megson isn't a people person and I think that is one problem he has, he always seems to be them against us (fans) scenario. The problem started when he was appointed, he wasn't the big name everyone wanted and when you look at his track record with other clubs, it doesn't exactly inspire you with confidence. The cynics amongst the supporters were saying that if we were relegated at least we had a Championship manager who had done it all before.

 

“Dependant on results I don't think the board would have any choice but to relinquish him of his duties. A lot of fans would have taken a defeat against Pompey and Stoke if it meant he would get the boot. Reebok will never be full again with him as the manager as too many people don't like him or his tactics. It will be interesting in the next few games – remember Lee got sacked at an international break and another one is coming up very soon.”

 

Fellow Bolton supporter Steve Hilton admits that he has never been a big Megson fan but concedes that something has to give as the situation is taking over the club.

 

“People just aren't turning up anymore. Maybe they are using Megson as an excuse, but it is understandable why some fans are not interested now. There were plenty of times last season when our fans were at away grounds and ended up fighting amongst themselves, notably at Stoke and Blackburn. But what happened on Saturday was a new episode for me. The North stand (formerly singing stand) was giving a slow handclap to the first half performance as we approached half time. Then the half time whistle was met with the loudest boo I've known at the Reebok.
 
“On Saturday the team was desolate of ideas. They seriously had no idea what to do in the first half. The endless punts of Knight and McCann weren't threatening the big defenders of Stoke but still we persisted. There is no improvement on last season. The signing of Paul Robinson is hailed by most Bolton fans as a sign of our ambition.
 
“To be honest, I don't think I was ever been behind Megson and I feel it’s the same for the majority of the fans. We gave him time to settle in but what he has served up has been appalling, especially the end of last season. Given that he has spent more money than any other Bolton manager the end result has been pathetic. Fair enough if he had kept us up on a meagre budget, but he spent a lot of money last season, which didn't impress the board as they haven't backed him this year. I cannot understand why he paid so much for Elmander who will never fit into our team as it, only if we change our style and that is something Megson is immune to. Thus, the reason why Kevin Davies has scored so many goals for the past year is that he has to fill in for Elmander.”

 

And Michael Moore is worried about the path Bolton are going down with Megson in charge.

 

“Personally I have no faith in Megson’s footballing tactics. The players he has bought are very high calibre but playing the wrong style of football for the supporters to appreciate. It is no good him berating the fans through the media saying that we don’t understand and appreciate him. It would be better if he showed that he understood and appreciated what the fans are going through.

 

“During the current season the Press has tried to be positive about the Wanderers – a word often used by players and officials in Press briefings – but the evidence is that there are only four points from six matches with only a goal a game scored and of course more than that conceded. Relegation is a strong possibility. This would be sad but understandable if the team went down fighting but they aren’t. They are ultra defensive totally forgetting that the best form of defence is attack – especially against the teams outside the top five who have no better players than the Wanderers.”

 

But is there anything that Megson can do to win over the fans and end this soul-destroying situation at the club? David Blackburn doesn’t think so.

 

“It is very distracting and it will not be solved unless we start winning games on a regular basis (although I admit a lot of the fans still won’t like him because that is the way that they are) or ultimately I am afraid he goes and we bring someone in.”

But who would the fans like to see in charge of the club instead of Megson? To read more on this subject visit: http://articles.squarefootball.net/squarefootball/2009/09/bolton-wanderers-who-would-replace-megson-if-he-was-axed.html

 

 

·         Calling all Bolton Wanderers fans. Are there any supporters out there who actually think that Megson is doing a good job? What could Megson do to unite the fans and the club? Do you think sacking him would be the best option for all concerned? I’d love to hear from you.