Bolton want Coleman to follow Lee

Peter Reid, a Bolton favourite as a player, is the alternative choice. Gartside accepts that he is highly unlikely to persuade Paul Jewell, considered the best man available, to end his sabbatical.

Jewell would be reluctant to follow in the Reebok footsteps of his old Liverpool pal Lee, who left yesterday with the troubled club spared bottom place in the Premier League only by goal difference.

Archie Knox is likely to oversee Saturday's daunting trip to Arsenal, but Gartside was seeking permission from Real Sociedad to approach Coleman, hoping to tempt their Welsh boss into starting as soon as possible.

Jewell, who quit Wigan after escaping relegation on the last day of last season, is in the market following a break to recharge his batteries but has told friends he is happy to wait for another opportunity.

Gartside instead favours Coleman, currently trying to steer fallen Spanish giants Sociedad back into the top flight at the first time of asking in front of one of the country's most demanding crowds.

He was impressed with Coleman's achievement in keeping Fulham afloat in the top flight and the former Blackburn and Wales centre-half will not baulk at the chance of a Premier League return.

Bolton's chairman needs to get this appointment right after being left with egg on his face from rashly hailing Lee as a better manager than Sam Allardyce when he stepped up from No 2 on April 30.

Gartside was fuming then at Allardyce's defection to Newcastle but he began to rue his bullish words more with each match of Bolton's poor start to the season and knew the game was up last week.

The shambolic end to Gary Speed's brief stint as player-coach, with Lee refusing point-blank to accept that it was Speed's decision and not his, brought home the harsh truth that Gartside had to act.

Lee left by 'mutual consent' after falling out with Jussi Jaaskelainen, Ivan Campo, Stelios, Gavin McCann and Kevin Nolan as well as Speed in a dressing room that never came to terms with his promotion.

Campo could not understand his absence from the registered UEFA Cup squad and Speed and Nolan were stunned to discover they had seats in the stand barely an hour before the Chelsea game.

Radical changes to Allardyce's methods, albeit later diluted in view of worrying results, put Lee at odds with several players and he accused some of 'malignant rumours' as the scenario became bleaker.

But Gartside has acted with Bolton still only three points adrift of safety and two winnable matches on the horizon after Arsenal — a UEFA Cup home tie with Portugal's Braga followed by Aston Villa at the Reebok.

Bookies' favourite Jewell was always irked by the lack of response to Wigan's fairytale rise — often fewer than 16,000 fans turned up — and will have noted Bolton fans' failure to reflect success with big crowds.

Former Leeds and Sunderland manager Reid was sounded out weeks ago about his availability at short notice and was seen enjoying Gartside's company at Wembley on Saturday when England played Estonia.

Iain Dowie is also on the Reebok chairman's radar. The dynamic and modern-thinking former Oldham boss, chasing a play-off place after a good start at Coventry, still has his family based just outside Bolton.

Hull manager Phil Brown is well thought of as Allardyce's former assistant, but No 2s are out for Bolton.

Lee, meanwhile, remains highly regarded as a coach at Liverpool, where Rafa Benitez is a man short, and within the FA, who are likely to offer a role to the former England coach and No 2.