Leicester let Megson talk to Bolton

12 April 2012

Leicester confirm they have agreed to let manager Gary Megson open talks with Bolton regarding their vacant managerial position.

The Coca-Cola Championship club have already spurned two approaches from Bolton, who parted company with Sammy Lee last week, but relented after Megson, 48, hinted he was interested in a return to the Barclays Premier League.

Chairman Milan Mandaric said in a statement on the club's official website, www.lfc.co.uk: "Despite by best efforts to retain his services and turning down two formal approaches from Bolton, Gary left me with no choice (on Tuesday night) when he informed me he wanted to leave Leicester and talk to the Premiership club."

He added: "I made it abundantly clear Bolton's interest was neither welcome or invited but it was evident to me that following a meeting requested by Gary following the home defeat by Sheffield United his loyalties and heart lay elsewhere."

Megson only took over at the Walkers Stadium on September 13, and the Foxes have won just three of his nine games in charge - and only one of those victories came in the league - a 2-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday.

The defeat to the Blades - courtesy of a Danny Webber goal - was only his second at the helm, and the Foxes have found the net just five times in the seven Championship matches under Megson.

Mandaric continued: "Naturally I am very disappointed. My objectives were to stand firm in the face of mounting interest from Bolton and intense media speculation over Gary's future but in the end these completely undermined my firm determination to retain his services.

"Needless to say our objectives to win promotion this season remain the same. The search for a new manager begins in earnest.

"In the meantime, assistant manager Frank Burrows and Gerry Taggart will assume temporary control of first-team affairs until we are in a position to announce a significant appointment."

If Megson does leave the Foxes, it will leave Mandaric searching for the fourth manager of 2007, with Rob Kelly, Nigel Worthington and Martin Allen having already left the club since the former Portsmouth owner took over the club.

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