The Times is reporting that whilst everyone else has been fussing over The Special One’s departure and whether or not Martin Jol will leave the Lane – Bolton have quietly got themselves into a managerial crisis. Player-coach Gary Speed is reportedly the next person frantically running for the luminous green exit sign at Bolton, seemingly desperate to jump the sinking ship. After a bust up between Speed and Little Sammy Lee, Speed is considering leaving ; well technically he’ll only half leave as he’s still under contract as a player, but he will no longer bark orders at fellow players. As you can probably see, this is yet another addition to the already unstable situation at Bolton.
Lee’s position is looking increasingly shaky not only because he replaced Big Sam who had Bolton competing in the top half of the table but because right now Bolton are perched at the edge of the cliff-top, in 19th place, recording only one win in their first nine games. Although they did pick up the now-customary draw with Tottenham.
And it isn’t just Speed who has a shaky relationship with Sammy Lee, a clutch of players including Kevin Nolan and Iván Campo have not got on well with Lee, and some of the coaching staff such as former Manchester United coach Ricky Sbragia, are considering doing a runner.
Bolton chairman Phil Gartside is thought to be thinking of unemployed Paul Jewell as a cheap and possibly more effective replacement. Possibly.