FORMER Liverpool manager Roy Evans was the early favourite as the guessing game began today over who will replace departing Wanderers' manager, Colin Todd.

Evans walked away from a joint management role with Gerard Houllier a year ago after four and a half years in the Anfield hot seat - his only trophy, ironically, coming with the 1995 Coca-Cola Cup Final victory over Wanderers!

There has been speculation for some time that he could be the man to step in if Wanderers opted for a change of manager.

With Wanderers needing to seek permission to approach managers currently in work, the likeliest candidates will be those who are between jobs - Denis Smith, Mark McGhee and Peter Jackson among those with experience of working on a tight budget which, in the short term, is what the new Bolton boss is likely to be faced with.

Others with Bolton connections could once again come into the reckoning.

Memories

Ex-Wanderer Sam Allardyce continues to impress with his work at Notts County and supporters, harbouring vivid memories of recent successes, might ignore the fact that a certain former manager is in work at Norwich and look to a 'dream' team of Bruce Rioch and the legendary John McGinlay, who is on the doorstep and scouting for his ex-boss.

Although Wanderers have been operating under tight financial constraints and the new manager is unlikely to see the purse strings loosened for some time, the Bolton job has always been a much sought after position.

The Bolton directors do not already have a replacement lined up and will not rush to make a new appointment - Phil Brown having been placed in temporary charge - but there will be no shortage of applicants to become Wanderers' 16th post-war manager.

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