Bolton want Megson as new manager

Megson is a hard taskmaster

Leicester manager Gary Megson is the front-runner to become the new Bolton manager, BBC Sport understands.
Graeme Souness was interviewed for the post last week but Bolton chairman Phil Gartside has confirmed the Scot is not interested in succeeding Sammy Lee.

Now Gartside looks set to turn to Megson and he is believed to be prepared to pay £300,000 to get him.

Bolton are understood to want to make an appointment before Sunday's Premier League match against Aston Villa.

Foxes chairman Milan Mandaric has already warned Bolton off Megson but the 48-year-old has yet to sign a contract at Leicester since taking the reins last month.

And Bolton, who are bottomg of the Premier League, are willing to pay compensation to prise him away from the Walkers Stadium.

They have been searching for a new boss since sacking Lee on 17 October and placing Archie Knox in temporary charge.

Gartside revealed on Tuesday that former Rangers, Liverpool, Blackburn and Newcastle manager Souness would not be the man to take over at the Reebok Stadium.

He said: "Graeme Souness was a candidate on our target list and he has now decided to remove himself from the interview process.

"Having interviewed him last week, I know he would have been an exceptional candidate for the role.

"However, I respect Graeme's decision to pull out of the process and I wish him well for the future."

Gartside has also been thwarted in his efforts to assess two other candidates, having been refused permission to talk to Birmingham boss Steve Bruce and Real Sociedad coach Chris Coleman.