Home
Legendary former Whites boss Sam Allardyce said he is “a little surprised” to see Neil Lennon leave the club — but thinks Southend manager Phil Brown could be the perfect fit to replace him.
Big Sam was reacting after today’s news that Lennon has left his job as Wanderers manager by mutual consent.
The much-loved former Bolton boss, who is preparing his Sunderland side for a North East derby this weekend, said: “I am a little surprised, but I suppose we have a new generation now with the new takeover.
“Neil’s results have clearly not been as good as he would have like or as people would have expected and as a manager you pay the price for that, so I do understand why it has happened.
“He has dipped his toe in the water in the English game now after a very successful time in Scotland with Celtic, but at the time he joined Bolton it was a club in decline and unfortunately that hasn’t been something he has been able to halt.”
He added: “I am sure this experience will have taught him a lot and he will take what he has learnt onto his next job.”
Academy manager Jimmy Phillips has taken temporary charge but bookmakers are making former Wanderers player and caretaker manager Phil Brown the current favourite to succeed Lennon on a permanent basis.
Allardyce said he thinks that would be a good move and that he could work well with new owner Dean Holdsworth. He added: “I can certainly see Phil Brown as an option — he is a man who loves Bolton as much as I do.
“He has been successful at Southend so whether Wanderers can entice him away is another issue.
“But I think Phil would be a good fit with the club and with Deano — I think they would work well together.”
Big Sam also moved to distance himself from any return to Bolton, he said: “I have got big commitments and all of my focus is on trying to make sure that Sunderland stay in the Premier League.”
Phil Brown is currently favourite with the bookies to be Wanderers' next permanent manager.
betvictor.com has the former Whites captain at 6/4 to fill the vacant position.
Jimmy Phillips, former Leicester manager Nigel Pearson and former Swindon manager Mark Cooper are all 8/1.
Source
Big Sam was reacting after today’s news that Lennon has left his job as Wanderers manager by mutual consent.
The much-loved former Bolton boss, who is preparing his Sunderland side for a North East derby this weekend, said: “I am a little surprised, but I suppose we have a new generation now with the new takeover.
“Neil’s results have clearly not been as good as he would have like or as people would have expected and as a manager you pay the price for that, so I do understand why it has happened.
“He has dipped his toe in the water in the English game now after a very successful time in Scotland with Celtic, but at the time he joined Bolton it was a club in decline and unfortunately that hasn’t been something he has been able to halt.”
He added: “I am sure this experience will have taught him a lot and he will take what he has learnt onto his next job.”
Academy manager Jimmy Phillips has taken temporary charge but bookmakers are making former Wanderers player and caretaker manager Phil Brown the current favourite to succeed Lennon on a permanent basis.
Allardyce said he thinks that would be a good move and that he could work well with new owner Dean Holdsworth. He added: “I can certainly see Phil Brown as an option — he is a man who loves Bolton as much as I do.
“He has been successful at Southend so whether Wanderers can entice him away is another issue.
“But I think Phil would be a good fit with the club and with Deano — I think they would work well together.”
Big Sam also moved to distance himself from any return to Bolton, he said: “I have got big commitments and all of my focus is on trying to make sure that Sunderland stay in the Premier League.”
Phil Brown is currently favourite with the bookies to be Wanderers' next permanent manager.
betvictor.com has the former Whites captain at 6/4 to fill the vacant position.
Jimmy Phillips, former Leicester manager Nigel Pearson and former Swindon manager Mark Cooper are all 8/1.
Source