7:52am Friday 26th October 2007
By Paul Keaveny
NEW Wanderers boss Gary Megson went on the charm offensive when he greeted his critics outside the Reebok.
The manager - in the post for only a few hours - was jeered by fans as he arrived to watch his new team.
But Megson met some of the supporters head on - and ended up signing autographs.
Earlier in the day, hundreds of disappointed supporters - hoping to see a bigger name at the helm - registered their anger at his appointment on The Bolton News website.
Many turned out to catch a glimpse of the new boss ahead of last night's Uefa Cup tie against SC Braga, but it proved to be a rocky reception for the new arrival from Leicester City.
Before watching the 1-1 draw from the stands, Megson appeared in the foyer at the club's main entrance and was greeted by jeers and chants from a group of young fans.
But Megson walked straight out to silence them, asking: "Who's doing the moaning out here?"
Fans then converged for autographs, some wished him good luck and all the best for the games ahead.
One asked him, "When are we going to start winning?" Megson replied: "We have got to start beating somebody soon."
He shook hands with Macauley Stephens, aged 12, from Deane, who said: "I just wanted to shake his hand because he's our manager now and I think he's going to do a good job."
But hundreds more supporters did not share the youngster's views.
Within an hour of Whites' chairman Phil Gartside announcing Megson's appointment just before 12.45pm yesterday, more than 70 readers had left comments on The Bolton News website criticising the appointment.
Gartside had declared: "Gary is the right man to take Bolton Wanderers forward".
But by teatime, about 350 had left messages, while others gathered at the Reebok Stadium to vent their frustration.
A small group of fans carrying posters bearing the slogans "Gartside Out" and "Sack the Board" stood outside chanting before kick-off, and the chants continued during the match.
One of the protesters, James Whelan, aged 31, from Westhoughton, said the appointment showed the club had "no ambition".
"A lot of people don't think that Megson is right. It's ludicrous. I feel, as a fan, I've got to make my voice heard," he said.
"I love this club and I want to see it be a success."
Lee Birchall, from Horwich, added: "Gary Megson is not the man for this job."
Bolton Wanderers Supporters Association chairman Tony Pearson said "the jury is out" on Megson but called on fellow fans to give the former West Bromwich Albion, Norwich City and Nottingham Forest manager time to get things right.
"I don't know whether he has got the kind of profile we were hoping a manager would have. We have to accept it. Somebody has to take charge of the team."
Mr Pearson said the key to the club's success in the past was stability and that Megson had a clean slate because he was not associated with the Allardyce regime.
He added: "When Sam Allardyce arrived from Notts County as a manager, his credentials were not that developed at that point and look what he achieved.
"I don't think it's fair to totally write Megson off this early in his career.
"Lets face it, if he gets three points against Aston Villa on Sunday, then things might change."
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