THE destiny of a manager is so very often shaped by the strikers they sign.

Would Bruce Rioch have achieved what he did without John McGinlay’s goals, or would Gary Megson have been quite so maligned by Wanderers fans had Johan Elmander hit the ground running?

Much of Sam Allardyce’s reputation was built on the rugged and unflinching shoulders of Kevin Davies, who also happened to exemplify his manager’s knack of reviving a footballing career.

So as Jermaine Beckford departed Wanderers this week, did the former Leeds United striker’s comparative lack of success tell us anything about the man who signed him?

Few tears were shed when it was announced the 30-year-old was heading down the M61 to Preston North End.

Dougie Freedman had brought Beckford to the club in a protracted deal from Leicester City that seemed to change in value with each passing week. At last count, his signing cost Wanderers around £1million.

But he was not, it transpires, the man the Scot wanted to lead his attack.

Freedman had eyes on a number of other targets which proved to be out of his financial reach and in this respect, the tale of Beckford’s unsuccessful stint at Bolton sums up his manager’s time fairly well.

A lack of cash hit hard. Freedman was never quite content with a rebuilding job which always seemed half finished.

Beckford was arguably capable of getting goals but often butted heads with Freedman over his conditioning – a quality prized above all else by the former Palace man – and fell out of favour at the start of this season.

The pair had played together at Leeds and held a begrudging respect for each other but once Neil Lennon walked through the doors, his decision to move Beckford on was as unemotional as you like.

The Northern Irishman had liked Beckford from afar and tried to sign him at Celtic but there was something missing in the striker’s make-up this season that made up the manager’s mind.

As the old football saying goes: “If he’s not scoring goals, he’s not doing anything.” And that rang true in many people’s thoughts.

Beckford is still capable of the sublime – as anyone who watched him in pre-season at Port Vale, or at Crewe in the Capital One Cup would attest – but it was a case of diminishing returns.

His salute to the Leeds United fans during a defeat at Elland Road was a massive PR own goal, and a lesson for any player on how not to approach playing against your former club.

Had Beckford fired for Wanderers he had the personality and charisma to be a legend at Wanderers in just the same way as he is in West Yorkshire.

Perhaps he was unlucky to represent the club when it felt as if it was stuck in the doldrums?

But Lennon’s swift decision to ship him out this week proves he has a ruthless streak and won’t be standing on ceremony.