Interview With Vital Bolton

1)So you have recently sacked Gary Megson! What are your feelings on this? Will this be a good thing when you are already in the bottom three?
I said on Vital Bolton at the end of last season that Megson should be relieved of his duties – with thanks for the work he`d done in stabilising the club. He wasn`t the man to take us forward and that`s proved to be the case.

The worry was that we`d fail to get a suitable replacement, but that seems to have worked out fine.




2) Did you want Owen Coyle to be your next manager? What will he bring to your club that Megson did not?

I`m not displeased at the appointment of Owen Coyle, but after only half a season at Burnley, he`s got it all to prove as a Premier League manager. He`ll be a popular choice though, and that`s what`s needed. It`s been a miserable time to be a Bolton fan these last twelve months. Fans against the manager, fans bickering with each other. Horrible.


Coyle was a deservedly popular player at Bolton between 1993 and 1995 when we were on oue way back to top flight football after years in the lower leagues. He`ll bring unity and I`m quietly optimistic about the future.

3) Why have you struggled this season and last season?

We`ve struggled this season because of the defence, in particular the inability to defend a lead. That`s not just down to the back four, but also due to the midfield not being organised properly.

We didn`t really struggle last season, but failed to score in too many games. A 13th place finish was ok, but it would have been better if the players hadn`t switched off after beating Middlesbrough in April.

4) Who is your most important player?

I don`t think we have just the one. Jussi Jaaskelainen has been a top rate goalkeeper for years, Kevin Davies is still a handful for defenders to cope with and Ricardo Gardner brings some flair to the side. Matt Taylor has been out of form this season, but his set pieces are invaluable.

5) If you could sign any Sunderland player who would it be and why?

Darren Bent. If you can stick the ball in the onion bag, you`ll always be useful.



6) What would be represented as a good season come May 2010?

Before the start of the season I`d have said comfortable mid-table, with a few more points than last season. Now, having squandered so many points, it`s down to survival.

7) What are your feelings on Sunderland under Steve Bruce?

They are pretty much where I expected them to be. Bruce is a competent, if unspectacular manager. He`s beefed up the midfield with Lee Cattermole, which was a problem for Sunderland last season, with not enough players in that area prepared to stick a foot in. A top half finish shouldn`t be beyond you.

8) Prediction please?

I think we might sneak a draw on the back of the new manager`s honeymoon period.

To see my interview on Vital Bolton click: