Megson Does Himself No Favours

Gary Megson has responded to the abuse he received from the travelling fans in the latter stages of the game against Blackburn Rovers and made things worse. When you`re in a hole, it`s best to stop digging. The Ginger One appears to have acquired a JCB.

Bolton appointed a communications manager in the summer. She would do well to send Megson on a PR course. His anger at the barracking is understandable, but the response merely inflames the situation, especially with the inaccuracies it contains and the utter lack of empathy with the supporters. The full transcript is available from other sources, but looking at fragments of it reveals an astonishing ineptitude when dealing with people.

‘Their (the fans) feelings for me are well-documented and are regularly made apparent. My feelings about them need to stay private.`

But they haven`t stayed private have they? You`re blabbing to the press.

`I wouldn’t say they are fickle because I’ve had it from day one – most managers get a honeymoon period.`

So you didn`t make comments about being referred to last season as the ‘Ginger Mourhino` then?

‘Look at Sam . He’s not been there long but they were 2-0 down at half-time and hadn’t even come close to our goal but there’s no kind of reaction like that.`

Wrong. Blackburn fans booed their own team off at half-time.

‘Myself and my players have our own thoughts about the fans, but we’ll keep them in the dressing room.`

Good one. Alienate the players from the fans as well.

‘I took this club further than it’s ever been in Europe

And then you sent out the reserves, academy players and a passing electrician in Lisbon, when fans had paid hundreds of pounds to be there. It wasn`t just the supporters who slated you for doing that. The entire British media did too. And the players sulked for a month.

`I kept them up after having five points from 10 games`

We know. You`ve told us. 284 times at the last count. You never mention that Bolton was a mere three points from safety.

Clearly, the relationship with a section of supporters is beyond repair. But even the most temperate of fans judge Megson to be lacking in crucial aspects of his job and will join the opposition to him, if results don`t improve.

The best thing would be for him to step down. Not now, as the instability could prove fatal to Bolton`s survival hopes, but at the end of the season. A director of football role would be a possibility, given his organisational skills. When the search for a replacement begins, one person should play no part in it and that is Phil Gartside. Never again should he get the chance to pick another Bolton manager.