WANDERERS commenced the interview process for their vacant manager job with ex-Reading coach Steven Reid and Burnden legend David Lee believed to be in the first set of applicants considered.

Former Ireland international Reid is in Steve Clarke's backroom staff in the Scotland set-up but is keen to make his mark in club management.

Lee is also eager to show he is ready to step up to the senior job from the academy and pitched his case to the Bolton panel.

At least three applicants are understood to have been interviewed thus far with more due in today - but Wanderers maintain a strong interest in Barrow's Ian Evatt, Plymouth's Ryan Lowe and Shrewsbury's Sam Ricketts and have not ruled out making a formal approach for their services.

Ex-Grimsby Town boss Michael Jolley is the third man understood to have been given an interview today.

One man who looks unlikely to be making the move north is Sol Campbell, who had been backed in as the bookmakers' second favourite behind Evatt at the weekend.

The Southend Echo reported yesterday that there had been no contact with the former England international, who has previously worked with Bolton's head of football operations, Tobias Phoenix, at Macclesfield Town.

Wanderers have spent the last two weeks gathering applications and sussing out the potential compensation packages which would be needed to approach a manager currently in situ.

We have learned that former Leeds United boss Paul Heckingbottom is among the free agents who have applied for the job.

Reid, who hung up his boots in 2015 at Burnley, made nearly 400 appearances as a player and won 28 caps for his country.

He has also worked at Crystal Palace under Roy Hodgson and had spells with AFC Wimbledon and West Brom since moving into the Scotland set-up last May.

Lee needs no introduction whatsoever to Bolton fans, having been a terrace favourite in his time with the club between 1992 and 1997.

Helping Wanderers win three promotions and reach the Coca Cola Cup final, the Whitefield-born winger has worked at Lostock since 2008 and has spoken about his desire to move into first team management.