Bolton next manager: Ex-West Brom boss strong favourite after Ian Evatt sack
Bolton could appoint Sam Allardyce to replace the recently-sacked Ian Evatt as the former West Brom boss emerges as one of the bookmakers favourites.
The ex-Albion boss has been priced at 6/1 by BetVictor after Evatt was dismissed at the Toughsheet Community Stadium following the 2-1 loss against Charlton Athletic (BBC Sport, 22 January).
West Brom recently appointed Tony Mowbray at The Hawthorns, but his second stint started in the worst possible manner after suffering a 2-0 loss against Middlesbrough on Tuesday (21 January) in his first game in charge.
Bolton now find themselves in a similar position to the Baggies as Shilen Patel was left shell-shocked after Carlos Corberan departed for Valencia over the Christmas period [Diario AS].
Sam Allardyce to return to management after West Brom spell
The 70-year-old took over in the West Midlands on 16 December 2020, with West Brom fighting a relegation battle in the Premier League.
At the end of the 2020/21 campaign, he suffered the first top-flight relegation of his managerial career at The Hawthorns and walked away from his role.
Allardyce has since admitted his choice to take charge of the Baggies “was a bad decision” [Phil Hay], but he quickly returned to the Premier League with Leeds United and once again failed to avoid the drop.
While his experience at Albion was far from ideal, he remains one of the most esteemed bosses in English football across an extensive 32-year career as a manager.
Although his reputation as an escape artist in the Premier League was tainted with his last two jobs, he would undoubtedly walk Bolton to promotion in the third-tier, where he previously spent eight years at the helm.
Whether a challenge in League One would appeal to Allardyce remains to be seen, but there is no love lost at The Hawthorns for the boss, and surely many supporters would be happy to see his return to management.
In other West Brom news, Albion face a “no-brainer transfer decision” on a Chelsea gem.
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