Mandaric Issues Statement Over Megson


Megson Move Close
By Mark Heys
October 24 2007

Leicester City chairman Milan Mandaric has issued a statement on the club website which states that the Foxes manager Gary Megson will be allowed to speak to Bolton Wanderers regarding their current managerial vacancy.

Mandaric has rebuffed two Bolton attempts to bring Manchester-born Megson back to the North West but now the ex-Portsmouth supremo has given Wanderers permission to talk terms.

The statement on www.lcfc.co.uk reads:

It is with disappointment and great reluctance that I have today agreed to allow Gary Megson to open talks with Bolton Wanderers regarding their vacant managerial position.

Despite my best efforts to retain his services and turning down two formal approaches from Bolton, Gary left me with no choice last night when he informed me he wanted to leave Leicester and talk to the Premiership club.

I made it abundantly clear that Bolton's interest was neither welcome or invited but it was evident to me that following a meeting requested by Gary following last night's home defeat by Sheffield United that his loyalties and heart lay elsewhere.

Naturally, I am very disappointed. My objectives were to stand firm in the face of mounting interest from Bolton and intense media speculation over Gary's future, but in the end these completely undermined my firm determination to retain his services.

In point of fact it was abundantly clear to me that if I stood in Gary's way it would have a detrimental effect on the club and I was not prepared to allow that to happen.

Needless to say our objectives to win promotion this season remain the same. The search for a new manager begins in earnest.

In the meantime assistant manager Frank Burrows and Gerry Taggart will assume temporary control of first-team affairs until we are in a position to announce a significant appointment.

Compensation has been agreed with the two clubs and a formal announcement is expected to take place prior to Bolton's UEFA Cup game against Sporting Braga tommorow night.

As yet Bolton chairman Phil Gartside is yet to make an announcement to follow on from his comments yesterday but Mandaric's statement is a clear indication that the Wanderers management role could about to be filled.

Australia coach Graham Arnold was linked with the Bolton post late this afternoon but it seems as if Megson is the man who will replace Sammy Lee at Wanderers.