NEW Wanderers boss Neil Lennon has pledged to give fans a “team to be proud of” after arriving at the club.

The Northern Irishman beat off stiff competition from a host of big names to succeed Dougie Freedman, including Steve Clarke, Chris Hughton, Tony Mowbray and Malky Mackay.

And he wasted no time in sending a message out to supporters from himself and management team Johan Mjallby and Garry Parker.

“I hope you look forward to me coming there, embrace myself and the backroom team and get behind the players, that’s all we want,” he said.

“I hope I can create a team they can be proud of week in, week out.”

Lennon likes what he has seen of Wanderers so far, and will be unveiled to the press on Tuesday afternoon.

“I think there is a really good structure within the club,” he said. “I went round the training facility yesterday, which was absolutely fantastic.

“I know the stadium well and I think they have got some very good players at the club.

“I have got a big job on my hands, that’s part of the challenge, getting Bolton back up the table.

“It’s a great challenge and I’m very excited about it. I’ve left one club with a great history and I’m going to another.

“I feel very lucky. I spoke to Phil Gartside Wednesday and then met him and Eddie Davies – they are good football people and obviously they are hurting a little bit because of the situation the club finds itself in at the minute. But they are trusting me to change that and I’m really looking forward to doing that.”

Lennon also played down the club’s financial situation, insisting that he is walking into the job with full knowledge that he will have to work with what he has got for now.

“It takes time, it won’t be done overnight,” he said. “In the short term I’m working with the players that I have got and I think there is a good core. I think I’ve tried to sign half a dozen of them.

“I know the qualities they have got and I want to work with that rather than look over my shoulder at other players.

“Our main objective, particularly in the short-term, will be to work with the first team and try to put right the results that have gone against us recently.

“I want to play a style of football that will please the Bolton fans.”

Lennon also confirmed that he turned down a chance to manage in the Middle East – and a reported £2million a year contract – to take up Wanderers’ offer.

“There was a genuine interest from a club in Jedda,” he told BBC Five Live. “It was appealing, it was a big club playing in the Saudi Arabian League and the Asian Champions League as well.

“My preference was to stay in England and then I got the opportunity with Bolton and I want to make the most of it.”