Thirteen is unlucky for some, but there was nothing superstitiously surprising about manager Gary Megson's dismissal at the helm of Bolton Wanderers yesterday - a decision that was announced precisely 13 hours after his side let slip a 2-0 lead over struggling Hull City to draw 2-2 at home.
The result leaves the Trotters sitting 18th in the Premier League and as the final whistle blew on Tuesday night, the Reebok Stadium was filled with heckles, jeers and a banner reading 'Megson Out'. The board acted swiftly. "Gary Megson has been relieved of his duties as first-team manager of Bolton with immediate effect," said a club statement. "The decision has been taken in the light of the position the club finds itself in the Barclays Premier League at the half-way point of the season. Assistant manager Chris Evans and first-team coach Steve Wigley will take charge of first-team matters for the interim period."
Megson has every right to feel aggrieved by a club whose fans never accepted him since taking the reins in October 2007. Bolton are undefeated in four matches, have two games in hand over their nearest league rivals and could jump to 10th with two wins. After Tuesday's draw, Megson was asked whether he thought it was impossible to win over Bolton's fans. He dejectedly answered: "Yes". "I make the decision [to take off Ivan Klasnic] and it goes down like the Bismarck," he said. "But I'd make exactly the same decision to try to keep hold of the game and keep that momentum. I made it against Burnley and we got a point and no-one says a word. Everyone has an opinion, but mine has consequences, therefore it becomes a decision."
Not anymore it doesn't. @Email:gmeenaghan@thenational.ae
