Temporary Promotion For Evans, Kelly

For several years in the 1990s, Chris Evans and Rob Kelly worked side by side in the youth department at Wolves.

Today, they begin roles in caretaker management a few miles apart, Evans at Bolton and Kelly a division lower with Preston.

Evans has been placed in charge at the Reebok Stadium alongside Steve Wigley in the wake of Gary Megson’s sacking and is having his first taste of senior management, having spent his entire Molineux career – one of more than a decade and a half – in what is now known as their Academy.

His baptism comes at home to Lincoln City in today’s FA Cup third round, although he has already found himself conducting media interviews in the meantime.

And he has made it clear he is not interested in the post permanently, saying: “I will not be applying for this job. I have no intention of being the manager of Bolton Wanderers.

“I am surprised to be in this position but I am professional enough to do the best possible job I can during the time given to me.” 

For Kelly, whose Preston side have a visit from Colchester today, the experience is nothing new. This is the second time he has been placed in temporary control at Deepdale since his spell as manager of Leicester.

He was taken north by former Wolves winger Paul Simpson and has this week heard another ex-Molineux midfielder, Darren Ferguson, linked strongly with the job.

We at Wolves Heroes wish both men good luck in their posts, however long they last, and marvel again at the number of players, particularly from the Graham Turner era at Molineux, who have gone into coaching and management positions.

When we went ‘live’ in August, 2008, we did so by posting an article in our Features area called ‘I Think We’ll Manage’ – one which is probably worth another read in the light of this week’s events.