League One side Bolton Wanderers have confirmed the appointment of former Plymouth Argyle boss Steven Schumacher as their new boss.
The appointment comes after the departure of Ian Evatt, who was let go following an inconsistent first half of the season. Which saw them fail to mount a serious push for promotion after missing out on a place in the Championship by just 90 minutes. Bolton were defeated in the play-off final by Oxford United.
They’ve now handed the keys to Schumacher who has been out of work since being sacked at Stoke City in the Championship. His spell with the Potters was short, only lasting 32 games in which he recorded 13 wins, 6 draws and 13 defeats.
Prior to that was his most successful period. He was the driving force behind Plymouth Argyle’s League One title win, picking up the Manager of the Year award in the process. After starting out as the assistant to Ryan Lowe he took over the club in December 2021, recording an impressive 60 wins in his 108 games at the club.
What has been said on the appointment?
Speaking to the club’s official media Schumacher expressed his delight:
“This means everything to me. It’s a fantastic opportunity and I’m really grateful to be given it by Sharon and the ownership group. It’s a fantastic club with a rich history and the journey and the project here is something I can’t wait to get involved with.
“It’s been an interesting career journey for me so far and I’m now at a fantastic club, a club which I believe can go on and do great things this season and in the future.
“I’m walking into a group which still has an awful lot to play for this season. It’s not too often you get given an opportunity like this with a team that’s only outside the play-offs on goal difference.
“That’s credit to what Ian (Evatt) did and I’m quite lucky to come into a group that’s in good form. The work this week that Julian (Darby), Andy Taylor and Andrew Tutte have done has been incredible. The lads have got two really good results and hopefully we can go and get a third good result at the weekend.
“The message to the lads will be to go and be themselves, play with confidence and hopefully we can get a few results on the board and keep this season going in the way we want it to go and achieve the objectives the club is desperate to do.”
A good appointment for Bolton Wanderers?
Schumacher was the obvious appointment from a very early stage, he not only knows what it takes to gain promotion from League One, but he was also unattached.
There were other candidates floating around such as Des Buckingham and Steve Evans, but it felt as though if the former Argyle man wanted it, it’s his.
Schumacher will have a point to prove, he left Plymouth at a peculiar time having just guided them into the Championship and soon found himself potentially regretting that decision. He will be keen to prove that he has what it takes to repeat his feat, this time with Bolton Wanderers.