Gary Megson has been relieved of his duties as Bolton manager with immediate effect, the club confirmed today. The 50-year-old leaves the Reebok Stadium with Wanderers 18th in the Barclays Premier League. His final game was last night's 2-2 draw at home to Hull.

A club statement read: "The decision has been taken in the light of the position the club finds itself in the Barclays Premier League at the halfway point of the season.

"Assistant manager Chris Evans and first-team coach Steve Wigley will take charge of first-team matters for the interim period."

Megson's departure is unlikely to be lamented by the Bolton support. Even though he helped save the club from relegation when he took over after an ill-fated stint by Sammy Lee in 2007, the Trotters faithful have never warmed to a man dubbed "the Ginger Mourinho".

Countless times he was forced to deflect attention on himself away from the team, insisting the fan reaction was not having an impact. It was no different last night, when a controversial decision to replace goalscorer Ivan Klasnic was followed by an equalising goal from the visitors.

Asked if he thought he could not win over the fans Megson replied: "Yes.

"I make the decision (to take off Klasnic) and it goes down like the Bismarck. Yet I made exactly the same decision against West Ham at 2-1 and we went on to win that one 3-1. No-one says a word.

"I don't understand the reaction at all. Their reaction is one of 'This would happen, that would happen'.

"Everyone has an opinion but mine has consequences, therefore it becomes a decision."

But chairman Phil Gartside knew the situation was unsustainable and decided to act this morning.

With an FA Cup tie against lowly Lincoln looming on Saturday, followed by a Premier League trip to Arsenal next Wednesday, it is not as if Bolton have any breathing space to take stock.

Evans and Wigley will take temporary charge, although whether Gartside appoints either man on a full-time basis is open to doubt given the disaster that unfolded when he appointed Lee from Allardyce's backroom team.

Megson becomes the third Premier League boss to lose his job this season, and the second in less than a fortnight following Mark Hughes' exit from Manchester City.

However, with Bolton languishing in the bottom three and facing an uphill struggle to avoid a financially disastrous drop into the Championship, Gartside clearly wants to give Megson's replacement an opportunity to exploit whatever bargains may be available during the transfer window.

Ironically, Hughes has instantly been made favourite to re-enter the management game, ahead of Darren Ferguson, who has been relieved of his duties at Peterborough.

That would be an interesting appointment given the proximity to Manchester United, although former Wigan boss Paul Jewell would seem like a more obvious candidate given his previous Premier League experience.

It might also be argued that Gareth Southgate's reputation has been enhanced by the worsening situation at Middlesbrough following his exit from Teesside, while a return to the scene of so many past successes for Allardyce is bound to be mentioned by Bolton fans, even if it is a somewhat implausible scenario.