Academy manager Jimmy Phillips speaks after taking charge of Thursday's first team training session
Academy manager Jimmy Phillips, flanked by coaching duo Sammy Lee and Julian Darby, took charge of the training session at club’s Euxton-based facility on Thursday morning.
Former Wanderers defender Phillips, who is now in a remarkable 24th season with the football club, was put in charge of first team affairs on an interim basis on Tuesday morning following the departure of Owen Coyle.
Speaking to the club’s official website on Thursday, Phillips explained: “Myself and Sammy had a meeting with the chairman on Tuesday where he asked us to take temporary charge of the team.
“We’re going to be pulling out all the stops to get the best out of the players.
“We spoke to the squad this morning and had a brief introductory meeting before heading out onto the training ground.”
Aside from Phillips and Lee, another former player who recently assumed a role in the academy and is now making the step-up to first team affairs is Darby.
Farnworth-born and an industrious midfielder during his playing days, he made over 300 appearances for Wanderers over a seven-year period.
“We’ve brought in Julian because he’s an excellent coach – he’s shown that in the work he’s been doing with the academy,” Phillips continued.
“He’s been in and around the Championship for a good number of years now, working with Preston, Derby and Nottingham Forest and has enjoying various successes.
“Julian and Sammy have both also played for Bolton, so we’ve of course got the best interests of the club at heart.
“We’ve got training planned for this week and next, and we’ll be building our work up looking towards the Bristol City game, whatever the time frame may be.
“The chairman has recognised the great work that has gone on in the academy in the last four years. We want the whole club to be running and to have a smooth transition from top to bottom.”