The 10 former Bolton Wanderers managers with the worst post-War win ratios

10. Walter Rowley (32.5% from 197 games)

Rowley played for Wanderers either side of the First World War and later became manager following Charles Foweraker’s retirement.

He spent six years in the role and his best achievement was leading the Whites to the FA Cup semi-final in 1946, though they suffered a 2-0 defeat against Charlton.

Rowley stepped down four years later due to ill health, with Bill Ridding becoming his successor, and was later made a life member of the club.

9. John McGovern (31.4% from 118 games)

McGovern was appointed player-manager at Burnden Park in 1982, leaving from Nottingham Forest after winning a league title and twice lifting the European Cup during his time at the City Ground.

However, the Scot’s early Bolton career was impacted by the club’s finances and he was forced to let several members of the first-team squad go, including Peter Reid.

McGovern decided to hang up his boots in 1984 and guided the Whites to a mid-table finish the following season before he was sacked following a row with chairman Neal Riley.

8. Phil Parkinson (31.2% from 157 games)

Parkinson joined Wanderers in June 2016 after opting to leave his position at Bradford and won promotion back to the Championship in his first season in charge.

The Whites narrowly avoided the drop the following season but were unable to repeat that feat in the 2018/19 campaign, finishing 23rd.

Parkinson resigned in August 2019 after the club had been deducted 12 points due to their issues off the pitch.

7. George Mulhall (31% from 42 games)

Mulhall initially joined Wanderers in 1974 as assistant to Ian Greaves before returning to the club seven years later to work under Stan Anderson.

He took over the reigns later that year but was forced to release several players, including Paul Jones, in an attempt to balance the books.

Mulhall managed to avoid relegation in the 1981/82 season following a vital 3-1 win against Sheffield Wednesday on the final day but resigned a month later.

6. Stan Anderson (29% from 62 games)

Anderson arrived at Burnden Park in November 1978 to replace Mulhall as Greaves’ assistant and became manager two years later, initially on a temporary basis.

He was soon given the full-time position but was unable to keep the Whites in the First Division following a poor start to the season.

Anderson’s side finished two places above the relegation zone the following year and Mulhall was promoted to the position of manager.

5. Gary Megson (27.3% from 99 games)

Megson took charge at Wanderers in October 2007 and kept the club in the Premier League in his first season in charge.

He also recorded a memorable 1-0 victory against Manchester United at the UniBol, with Nicolas Anelka getting the decisive goal.

The Whites finished 13th the following season after recovering from a ropey start, but Megson was sacked in December 2009 with his side in the bottom three.

4. Nat Lofthouse (27.2% from 81 games)

The Lion of Vienna is widely regarded as the best player to represent Wanderers and also had a spell as manager in the sixties.

Lofthouse’s record arguably doesn’t tell the full story – he helped rebuild the club during difficult times when the abolition of the minimum wage had completely changed the football landscape.

The Whites legend later returned to the hotseat as caretaker boss and also served as both chief scout and club president.

3. Charlie Wright (25% from 44 games)

Wright took charge in January 1985 following a spell as McGovern’s assistant and managed to prevent the club from dropping into the Fourth Division.

The most memorable match from his tenure was a 3-2 win at Gillingham, which he described at the time as the “most important game in Wanderers’ history”.

However, his time in the hotseat came to an end the following season and he was replaced by Phil Neal.

2. Neil Lennon (22.5% from 80 games)

Lennon joined Wanderers back in October 2014 following Dougie Freedman’s departure and managed to keep the club in the Championship.

However, the Whites had a poor start the following season and Lennon admitted to The Bolton News he didn’t realise “quite how tough it was going to be” at Bolton.

He left the club in March 2016 with his side sitting at the foot of the table – 11 points from safety with nine games to go.

1. Keith Hill (18.2% from 33 games)

Hill took charge at the UniBol just days after the Football Ventures takeover was finalised and called it his “dream job”.

However, his time at Wanderers didn’t go to plan and the club confirmed they would not be offering him a new contract following relegation to League Two.

Hill is now managing Scunthorpe and has claimed he was “thrown under the bus” during his time at Bolton.

*Only managers who took charge of at least 30 games have been included