Bolton turn to Knox
Bolton Wanderers have put Archie Knox in charge of first-team
affairs following the departure of Sammy Lee by mutual consent on
Wednesday.
Knox was appointed by Lee as coaching co-ordinator in August and
will look after the team as they prepare for the hugely difficult
trip to the Emirates Stadium to face Arsenal on Saturday.
It is thought the 60-year-old, who left his post as Scotland
Under-21 coach, will be assisted by first-team coaches Jimmy
Phillips and Ricky Sbragia.
Knox is a hugely experienced coach and was in charge of Scotland's
youth set-up before joining Bolton. Prior to taking the Scotland
role in July 2006, he had worked as an assistant to Walter Smith at
Rangers and Everton and also to Sir Alex Ferguson at Aberdeen and
Manchester United.
Lee left Bolton by mutual consent yesterday after a poor start to
the season.
The Lancashire club have taken just five points from their first
nine Barclays Premier League games, only goal difference keeping
them off the bottom of the table.
Lee succeeded Sam Allardyce as manager at the Reebok Stadium
towards the end of last season, with the latter later joining
Newcastle.
General manager Frank McParland has also left the club.
Under Lee, Bolton progressed to the group stages of the UEFA Cup -
but their league form has been a major cause for concern.
Former boss Allardyce returned to the club on the opening day of
the season as Newcastle cruised to a 3-1 victory.
Defeats at Fulham and Portsmouth followed, before a 3-0 home
victory over Reading briefly eased the pressure.
However, further losses to Everton, Birmingham and Chelsea, and a
home draw with bottom side Derby, left Bolton in the relegation
zone - and Lee's cause was not helped by off-field issues.
Last week, veteran midfielder Gary Speed was relieved of his
coaching duties at the club - having been left out of the squad to
face Chelsea.
Meanwhile, Phil Brown admits he is relishing his role at Hull
City after flatly dismissing speculation linking him with the
vacant managerial post at Bolton.
Brown enjoyed six years as a player at Bolton before joining the
club's backroom staff and briefly taking temporary charge of
first-team duties in 1999.
The City boss, however, has played down the prospect of a return,
saying: 'It's perhaps inevitable to be linked, but I am very happy
with the job I'm doing here.'
Brown took charge at Hull in December 2006 and is intent on
reviving the club's fortunes.
'It's flattering to say the very least,' he added to the Hull Daily
Mail.
'It's always nice to get linked with another job, let alone a
Premier League job, but I have a massive job on my hands at Hull
City now.'
