Bolton Wanderers hope to parade their new manager on Monday, after Neil Lennon was named as Dougie Freedmanâs successor. Freedman was sacked at the start of this month after almost two years in the role, with the team rooted to the foot of the Championship. Tony Mowbray, Steve Clarke and Chris Hughton were among those linked with the Lancashire club but it is Lennon who has been handed the post six months after leaving Celtic. âThe club are delighted and excited to appoint Neil Lennon. He brings with him experience at the highest level and an infectious enthusiasm to take the club forward,â read a club statement. Lennon will be joined at the club by assistant manager Johan Mjallby and the first-team coach Garry Parker. Lennon was approached by the Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad within the past fortnight but opted against a move to the Middle East. He was also believed to be in the frame to replace Felix Magath at Fulham but it was Bolton who moved quicker to secure the Northern Irishman. As the manager of Celtic, Lennon won three Scottish titles in a row and two Scottish Cups. His reign will perhaps be best remembered for the run to the last 16 of the Champions League in 2012-13, which included a memorable win over Barcelona in Glasgow. Bolton have won only five points from 11 league games, having won just a single match. Their next one is away to fellow strugglers Birmingham City on Saturday. http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/oct/12/neil-lennon-bolton-wanderers
Garry Parker? Same one? I couldnt stand Lennon as a player or as a manager at Celtic but he's a pretty decent pundit. I can go back to not liking him now.
Tough job is the Bolton job: huge debt and high expectation. Well supported club though and as history has shown us, both recent and years back, they have the potential to be a good top flight club. I liked Burnden Park though, those big terraces under roof.
Neil Lennon is a great bloke when you get to know him. I am surprised he has taken bolton, he can and will manage a 'bigger' club
I didn't like the way Lennon fuelled the flames before and during the Auld Firm games when he was at Celtic - I thought it was extremely irresponsible and blinkered of him to do so. But there's no doubting his drive and passion.
Always had a soft spot for Bolton even b4 Brownie became our manager...very much comparable with us in alot of ways despite current standings except they got Jay Jay at his prime of course. Good choice of manager.
Yes the very same. They played together at Leicester and Lennon had Parker on the coaching staff at Celtic too.
For me the jury is still out with NL, it will be interesting to see how he gets on at Bolton. I think the fact that he has had to take this job, shows that others have a question mark on his managerial qualities.
Fair play to him, he's put his reputation on the line. I would have waited for a better placed job to come up if I were him though. going to be tough there.
