Next Bolton manager odds: Sam Allardyce into 6/1 for return to former club

Today at 10:56 AM

Time was called on Ian Evatt’s reign as Bolton manager after over four years in charge with pressure mounting in League One.

Evatt took over back in July 2020 and not many would have expected a tenure of nearly five years with the club with as many as 261 games overseen and 130 wins.

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But after a 2-1 loss to Charlton on Tuesday night despite being one up, even having played well Bolton’s board held an emergency meeting ultimately deciding it was time.

Bolton were ninth in the table when he was let go, with just one win in their last five and an attractive prospect for managers looking for a promotion push, via the play-offs.

They sit just three points off the top six which seems wide open for a play-off push, with only a handful of points between 5th and 11th.

But who is set to takeover at Toughsheet Community Stadium?

Sam Allardyce is a surprising contender having previously been 10/1 earlier is now into 6/1 for a huge return to the club he managed between 1999 and 2007.

Big Sam has been all over the country since then, with stints at Newcastle, Blackburn, West ham, Sunderland, Crystal Palace, Everton, West Brom and Leeds.

Allardyce started his playing career at Bolton spending a total on nine years at the club, making 184 appearances.

He’s often taken on big challenges and hasn’t been a manager since 2023 so this could be the perfect return for him, even if it’s in League One as he’s usually taken over in Premier League or Championship clubs.

However, he’s nowhere near the favourite to takeover as Steven Schumacher the former Plymouth and Stoke City manager is the big favourite.

He’s been linked with most manager vacancies recently though and there could be some bigger priced options that could shorten in the days to come as more news comes through.

Leam Richardson is as high as 10/1 but has plenty of experience at this level with Wigan and Rotherham United.

However, with the view of promotion it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Bolton take a gamble on a manager that would be outside the box.

Claus-Dieter Wollitz who is 8/1 could be just that as a surprise third contender in the list to takeover at Bolton.

The German coach has been in the game since 2002 with KFC Uerdingen and has been at various clubs in the lower leagues in Germany.

Next Permanent Bolton manager odds

• Steven Schumacher – 5/4
• Sam Allardyce – 6/1
• Claus-Dieter Wollitz – 8/1
• Leam Richardson – 10/1
• Ryan Lowe – 10/1
• BAR 12/1

View full list of ‘Next Permanent Bolton manager odds‘ HERE.

Wollitz has been with Energie Cottbus since July 2021 but only managed 40 games and only seen six losses, which could be the big appeal and the reason for the surprise inclusion in the list of candidates.

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