Who cares what a bunch of disinterested hacks have to say when you can get the skinny direct from those to whom it matters most? Well, good news – Football Burp’s very own Jonny Forumer, lurker extraordinaire, is here to collate choice message board analysis so you can get the lowdown from the people who really know what they’re on about. Take it away, Jonny…
Morning folks, Jonny Forumer signing in. Owen Coyle’s slump as Bolton Wanderers boss had been more alarming and distressing than the FA’s anti-racism sanctions, and when news of his departure from the Reebok Stadium broke I hotfooted it round online Trotters joints The Wanderer, Bolton Banter and BWFC Forum listening in on folk debating his successor…and what I encountered wasn’t always pretty…

The Wanderer
Lost Leopard Spot…
Mick “Mick” McCarthy (or Keane)(or a rising Lower Leaguer)(or somebody from abroad but not that tosser Benitez).
ohjimmyjimmy…
Neil McDonald was an interesting suggestion.
dj tuncay…
Dougie Freedman would be my choice , had 3/4 years now at a cash strapped club , gets his team playing nice football and seems to get the best out of his players !!!! young and ambitious but with more potential than coyle ever had and would not cost a fortune !!!! but i have a feeling it will be big Mick !!!
Leyther_Matt…
Someone from abroad for me. Fresh thinking, fresh ideas and no preconceptions about the players.
claus jensen’s guitar…
Big Mick or Ian Holloway.
the bish…
why the juddering norman would holloway leave blackpool for bolton??
Dave Sutton’s Barnet…
There was a long discussion about Gary Neville the other week, so I thought I’d put him in there as he had plenty of proponents (and a fair few opponents).
I pondered Ian Holloway but I strongly doubt he would leave a club where he’s very well regarded (and who are in a higher position) to go to a Lancashire rival. Yep, it happened with Coyle, but OC had ties to this club and Holloway doesn’t. I would be very very surprised indeed if Holloway is a contender or even under consideration.
I’ve included the option of a lower-league manager (and Keith Hill) as I think we might be able to afford that. But Blackpool and Palace would play hardball, even if their managers fancied it. Same goes for Brighton’s Poyet and Hull’s Bruce.
Some will insist on saying Redknapp despite the saggy-faced dick saying he won’t manage in this division (or anywhere not drivable from Poole). I also doubt Rafa Benitez or Glenn Hoddle would give up their free time for us at the moment. Ray Wilkins, possibly, although he’s not yet thrown hats into rings below the top flight. We have to remember where we are now: you get very little residual respect for 11 years of top-flight football when you’re arsing around near the shit-chute to Division Three.
I forgot all about Alex McLeish, who’s probably damaged goods after the last two years in the second city, and Steve Kean, who needs a holiday in a quiet place. Other names in the betting lists include Southgate, Phil Brown and Dean Holdsworth, whose Aldershot side have only won two of their first 10 fixtures.
Worthy4England…
Out of those named above (and I know there were options to pick unnamed), I went for Curbs. Can’t see it happening though. Even less likely, I think, is the prospect that Gartside would want to work with Roy Keane.
Would like to go for Poyet, but don’t think he’s see us as a forwards move, so abroad would work for me.
Who I think we’ll end up with (as opposed to who I’d like to see) – Mick McCarthy or Alex McLeish.
midlands exile…
We’ve got limited options
– can’t afford compensation, so noone currently in a job
– not in the Premiership, so overseas attraction difficult
– not much of a transfer kitty, so no “chequebook managers”I’d probably go for Alan Curbishley, with Ray Wilkins as assistant, if they’d come up north.
Re: “BWFC Legends” – if the club has kept up good relations with them (although the manner in which some of them were let go means that might be a bit dicey), then would be good to see if any of them have done their coaching badges.
Bringing in someone like Campo as a coach on a short-term contract would add a touch of flair and be a fan favourite – and if it didn’t work out, not a disaster.
Bolton Banter
Greeny2…
Kenny Dalgleish, Harry Redknapp. I’ve got to say I’d like either. That has to be fantasy land though doesn’t it?
Comstives Corner…
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer?
jonnobwfc…
McCarthy is the clear bookies favourite but ive said it before i think Peter Reid will make the board think. He lives locally, ex bolton player and no compensation to pay! 20-1 in most bookies but bet 365 offering a massive 66-1. Thats where my fiver has gone
Billy Bradshaw…
I think we shouldn’t get carried away with talk of big-name managers. If we’re talking ideal world, I thought Spurs were mad to get rid of ‘Arry, but he’ll be too expensive and too exclusive. The reality is that someone around the level of McCarthy will be appointed. We don’t have a lot of money to pay them, we don’t have money for transfers and we owe a forune, even if it’s to our owner.
BWFC Forum
dh1985…
I’d be delighted with Curbishley, pleased with Billy Davies, disillusioned with McCarthy and gutted if, sorry when, we get Phil Brown.
dinglesurf…
some of the candidates out there to replace OC are truly frightening, with the likes of McLeish and Phil Brown hovering. Would love to see us go completely left field and get someone like Djorkaeff or N’Gotty in (if they are even in management/coaching).
Denn…
Mcliesh will be next manager.
Chungy will be sold in January.
Who would you like to see as Owen Coyle’s replacement, Bolton fans? Have your say in the comments section below…