Gary Megson sacked by Bolton after fans call for boss to be booted out

Bolton manager Gary Megson has been sacked.

Tuesday night's 2-2 draw with Hull City left the Trotters third from bottom in the Premier League and the former West Brom and Nottingham Forest boss has been axed after supporters turned on him at the Reebok Stadium.

Sportsmail understands Paul Jewell was at the Reebok last night to watch the game and is among the front runners for the post.

A statement on the club's official website read: 'Gary Megson has been relieved of his duties as first-team manager of Bolton Wanderers Football Club with immediate effect.

'The decision has been taken in the light of the position the club finds itself in the Barclays Premier League at the halfway point of the season.

'assistant manager Chris Evans and first team coach Steve Wigley will take charge of first-team matters for the interim period.

'The club wishes to place on record its thanks to Gary Megson for his hard work and commitment to Bolton Wanderers during his tenure as manager.'

 Megson had managed just one win since beating Everton on October 25 - a 3-1 win over fellow strugglers West Ham earlier this month and his departure is unlikely to be lamented by the Bolton support.

Even though he helped save the club from relegation when he took over after an ill-fated stint by Sammy Lee in 2007, the Trotters faithful have never warmed to a man dubbed 'the Ginger Mourinho'.

Countless times he was forced to deflect attention on himself away from the team, insisting the fan reaction was not having an impact.

But chairman Phil Gartside knew that situation was unsustainable over the long-term and, after tossing away a two-goal lead at the Reebok Stadium last night, has decided to act.

With an FA Cup tie against lowly Lincoln looming on Saturday, followed by a Premier League trip to Arsenal next Wednesday, it is not as if Bolton have any breathing space to take stock.

Evans and Wigley will take temporary charge, although whether Gartside appoints either man on a full-time basis is open to doubt given the disaster that unfolded when he appointed Lee from Allardyce's backroom team.

Megson becomes the third Premier League boss to lose his job this season, and the second in less than a fortnight following Mark Hughes' exit from Manchester City.

However, with Bolton languishing in the bottom three and facing an uphill struggle to avoid a financially disastrous drop into the Championship, Gartside clearly wants to give Megson's replacement an opportunity to exploit whatever bargains may be available during the transfer window.

Ironically, Hughes has instantly been made favourite to re-enter the management game, ahead of Darren Ferguson, who has been relieved of his duties at Peterborough.

That would be an interesting appointment given the proximity to Manchester United, although former Wigan boss Paul Jewell would seem like a more obvious candidate given his previous Premier League experience.

It might also be argued that Gareth Southgate's reputation has been enhanced by the worsening situation at Middlesbrough following his exit from Teesside, while a return to the scene of so many past successes for Allardyce is bound to be mentioned by Bolton fans, even if it is a somewhat implausible scenario.