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When a new manager is unveiled at Wanderers in the next few days he will grab the headlines, be the talk of the town and perhaps set the club’s agenda for years to come.
But among the awkward scarf pictures and declarations of Premier League returns, you’d hope a pat on the back is given to the man whose work in the last week might just have made the new boss’ job easier.
Andy Hughes was one of Dougie Freedman’s less celebrated signings and his early days with Bolton have been anything but straightforward.
Initially brought in to assist David Lee with the Under-18s, he also signed on as a player, explained at the time as a way of helping the development squad players with some leadership on the pitch.
When the 36-year-old found himself sitting on the bench for a handful of games at the start of the season as injuries piled up, fans furrowed their brows and asked why younger players were not being given their chance?
It has only been in the last week, as the Longsight-born midfielder’s character shone through an uncertain time at the club, that you see why he made the decision.
That goes for Phil Gartside too. When the decision was made on Friday morning to part ways with Freedman, a number of coaching scenarios were examined before Hughes and goalkeeping coach Lee Turner were confirmed as the ones who would lead the side against Bournemouth.
That club stalwarts Jimmy Phillips, David Lee and Co were not selected was more an indictment on their lack of involvement at first team level than their coaching prowess. And if any advice is to be offered to the incoming manager from this writer, it would be to tear down those walls of division between first team and Academy as quickly as possible.
But again, character played a part in Hughes’s selection, as it will for Freedman’s permanent replacement.
The role of another strong-willed young gentleman, club captain Jay Spearing, has also been under-played in the last week. The tough-as-nails Liverpudlian acting as one-half shop steward, one-half cheerleader at a time when the squad’s mental state was very much in question.
Spearing was as demonstrative as anyone on the pitch last weekend and under a new manager it will be interesting to see whether his all-round game will improve if released of the defensive shackles he often had in Freedman’s system.
The young midfielder spoke up for Hughes, and this past week has been an exercise in self-healing for a team that had definitely hit rock bottom at Fulham just 10 short days ago.
If the Bournemouth performance showed that the spirit in the dressing room is not broken, then it will be down to the new manager to prove the squad’s quality is worth the paper it is written on.
Hughes has come across like a kid in a candy store.
“I saw the players I could pick from and just thought, ‘wow,” he told reporters last Saturday.
In midweek, he explained the ethos that had made him such a terrace favourite at Charlton, Reading, Notts County but most of all, Leeds United.
“You can always forgive a lack of ability in a player but not effort,” he said. “That’s the only thing I demand, and what any coach or manager can demand; 100 per cent effort in training and then out there on the pitch on Saturday.”
No wonder, then, Elland Road lit up at the sight of Hughes warming up when the two sides met a few weeks back.
Hughes was the first player signed after Leeds had slipped into administration in 2007, docked a massive 15 points by the Football League. He remained with them in the dark days of League One and then helped them back into the Championship via automatic promotion.
His admiration for his former club is still clear, and though like Jermaine Beckford he got some grief for displaying it during that 1-0 defeat, at least he picked his moment.
He even took to Twitter later on to explain to supporters his side of the story.
Hughes openly accepts his own limitations as a footballer but must have done something right to still be earning a trade after 18 years of professional football, that started at Oldham Athletic.
His value as a coach has come through in the last week and while he intends to see out the remaining days of his playing career before focusing fully on life in the dugout, those at Euxton would argue he has an impressive first entry on his CV.
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But among the awkward scarf pictures and declarations of Premier League returns, you’d hope a pat on the back is given to the man whose work in the last week might just have made the new boss’ job easier.
Andy Hughes was one of Dougie Freedman’s less celebrated signings and his early days with Bolton have been anything but straightforward.
Initially brought in to assist David Lee with the Under-18s, he also signed on as a player, explained at the time as a way of helping the development squad players with some leadership on the pitch.
When the 36-year-old found himself sitting on the bench for a handful of games at the start of the season as injuries piled up, fans furrowed their brows and asked why younger players were not being given their chance?
It has only been in the last week, as the Longsight-born midfielder’s character shone through an uncertain time at the club, that you see why he made the decision.
That goes for Phil Gartside too. When the decision was made on Friday morning to part ways with Freedman, a number of coaching scenarios were examined before Hughes and goalkeeping coach Lee Turner were confirmed as the ones who would lead the side against Bournemouth.
That club stalwarts Jimmy Phillips, David Lee and Co were not selected was more an indictment on their lack of involvement at first team level than their coaching prowess. And if any advice is to be offered to the incoming manager from this writer, it would be to tear down those walls of division between first team and Academy as quickly as possible.
But again, character played a part in Hughes’s selection, as it will for Freedman’s permanent replacement.
The role of another strong-willed young gentleman, club captain Jay Spearing, has also been under-played in the last week. The tough-as-nails Liverpudlian acting as one-half shop steward, one-half cheerleader at a time when the squad’s mental state was very much in question.
Spearing was as demonstrative as anyone on the pitch last weekend and under a new manager it will be interesting to see whether his all-round game will improve if released of the defensive shackles he often had in Freedman’s system.
The young midfielder spoke up for Hughes, and this past week has been an exercise in self-healing for a team that had definitely hit rock bottom at Fulham just 10 short days ago.
If the Bournemouth performance showed that the spirit in the dressing room is not broken, then it will be down to the new manager to prove the squad’s quality is worth the paper it is written on.
Hughes has come across like a kid in a candy store.
“I saw the players I could pick from and just thought, ‘wow,” he told reporters last Saturday.
In midweek, he explained the ethos that had made him such a terrace favourite at Charlton, Reading, Notts County but most of all, Leeds United.
“You can always forgive a lack of ability in a player but not effort,” he said. “That’s the only thing I demand, and what any coach or manager can demand; 100 per cent effort in training and then out there on the pitch on Saturday.”
No wonder, then, Elland Road lit up at the sight of Hughes warming up when the two sides met a few weeks back.
Hughes was the first player signed after Leeds had slipped into administration in 2007, docked a massive 15 points by the Football League. He remained with them in the dark days of League One and then helped them back into the Championship via automatic promotion.
His admiration for his former club is still clear, and though like Jermaine Beckford he got some grief for displaying it during that 1-0 defeat, at least he picked his moment.
He even took to Twitter later on to explain to supporters his side of the story.
Hughes openly accepts his own limitations as a footballer but must have done something right to still be earning a trade after 18 years of professional football, that started at Oldham Athletic.
His value as a coach has come through in the last week and while he intends to see out the remaining days of his playing career before focusing fully on life in the dugout, those at Euxton would argue he has an impressive first entry on his CV.
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