After Steven Schumacher was confirmed as the new Bolton Wanderers manager this week, the newly appointed gaffer has now revealed the backroom staff that will be joining him.
The former Stoke City, Plymouth Argyle and Southport boss was announced on Thursday evening, signing a three-and-a-half-year deal with Bolton after being dismissed from his role in Staffordshire back in September after just nine months in charge.
Once a midfielder himself (having played for both Oldham and Bury), the 40-year-old’s dismissal earlier this season was seen as premature by many at the time, but now Schumacher is back in the dugout and will lead his Bolton squad for the first time this Saturday, 1 February against 10th placed Reading.
Caretaker trio Julian Darby (ex-Leeds United assistant), retired Sheffield United defender Andy Taylor and player-coach Andrew Tutte had been put in charge for the interim, however, Schumacher has now named the key figures among his first-team staff.
Announced on Friday (31 Jan), Schumacher’s former right-hand man at both Stoke and Plymouth, Mark Hughes, will be joined by fellow coach Richie Kyle, who was last employed at second divison side and recent Premier League promotees, Luton Town, where he served as assistant manager.
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The latter will take up the same role at the Toughsheet Stadium while Hughes will be third in charge as Assistant Coach. Speaking in an official club statement, manager Schumacher said: “I’m delighted to have made Mark and Richie my first two appointments since joining the club.
“They are going to be very important additions, alongside the staff already here, who I know will make a huge contribution to the work we plan to do.
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“I have worked closely with Mark for a number of years and know exactly the impact he will have on the squad in implementing our plans and I’m looking forward to now working with Richie as someone who brings so much knowledge and coaching experience from a high level to us.
“I know they will both settle in and make a positive impact straightaway as we work together to build on what we have here and move the team forward.”
The trifecta of new hires come just over a week after previous head coach Ian Evatt left by ‘mutual agreement’ following nearly half a decade in charge of the Whites, having lifted them back from the precipice of non-league and winning the EFL Trophy in 2023.
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As for his replacement, Schumacher said of his next challenge: “This means everything to me. It’s a fantastic opportunity and I’m really grateful to be given it by [chairman] Sharon [Brittan] and the ownership group.
“It’s a fantastic club with a rich history and the journey and the project here is something I can’t wait to get involved with. It’s been an interesting career journey for me so far and I’m now at a fantastic club, a club which I believe can go on and do great things this season and in the future.”
Meanwhile, while it remains unclear exactly what the future holds for Darby, it is likely Taylor and Tutte’s will continue in their roles overseeing the B-team.
The club have also been sure to keep the positive news coming as they prepare to enter a new month and a fresh chafter after also confirming another attacking signing before deadline day, with Cardiff’s 6’6″ striker Kion Etete joining on loan for the rest of the season – their third deal of the January window.
Manchester City staff member sacked after wearing Man United shirt to shift
Danny Jones
Man City have divided a fair few supporters after they sacked a barman for wearing a United shirt to their shift during the Manchester derby.
Although it’s not exactly surprising, the decision has ruffled plenty of feathers on both sides, as well as among neutral fans.
The Blues emerged victorious in the 197th clash between the two local rivals, winning 3-0 on an evening that paid tribute to the late, great Ricky Hatton, but another backstory looming over the fixture that caught the attention of football fans online was the City staff member who lost his job.
Working on concessions inside the Etihad Stadium before the game, the barman was made known to the official MCFC Matchday Support channel on X, who quickly confirmed he had been let go before the game even began.
In the since-deleted post, the home fan who reported the worker wrote: “Absolute joke – letting one of the bar staff in block 315 wear a United shirt on Derby Day.”
Although many City fans applauded the fast action by the club on the day, it’s fair to say that sacking him so soon that he didn’t even last until kick-off has rubbed many others the wrong way.
One Liverpool fan commented: “I hate United way more than City, but to sack him from a job because of an item of clothing is crazy. So, so poor from Manchester City, this. It’s just football lads, he’s not wearing a political or derogatory symbol. It’s literally a football team…”
Another neutral added: “Getting a minimum wage worker sacked for having a bit of fun instead of just winding him up is the absolute sad state this country is in.”
Even the ‘Out Of Context Football Manager‘ parody account chipped in, writing: “The guy’s been sacked for this. All he needed was a formal warning. I get he’s taking the p*ss – but losing a salary he might really need over this?!
While many have been even more outspoken in their response, as you can see, many supporters – be they Red or otherwise – have come up with arguably the perfect solution:
Manchester City are yet to comment on the backlash, apart from the initial confirmation that the still-anonymous staff member has been released from his position, but as for Man United, simply sticking him on the kiosks in the Stretford End could prove to be a very easy bit of positive PR.
Besides the growing frustration around the fanbase, as Ruben Amorim has yet to turn things around at Old Trafford (pressure was growing even before the derby day defeat), the Red Devils could no doubt do with some positive press for a change.
In fact, it was only earlier this year that co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, CEO Omar Berrada and the wider INEOS Sports administration sanctioned a second round of redundancies at United, with approximately 450 individuals losing their jobs.
That being said, although some have labelled the sacking of the now ex-City barman as “absolutely horrendous behaviour” for Man City, many jumped to quip back that “[United are] more likely to sack more bar staff, not hire them”, as well as simultaneously taking aim at their significant transfer spending.
Featured Images — Mataniels via X (now deleted)/The Manc Group
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Salford Red Devils supporters group outline plans for the next major protest march
Danny Jones
Salford Red Devils supporters trust, The 1873, have outlined details of their next major march in protest over the club’s well-publicised ownership troubles and financial crisis.
The fan group, which has mobilised on multiple occasions already this year, is set to hit the streets once again this month and in larger numbers than ever, confirming another big demonstration before their next home game this weekend.
Sharing the update with fellow Red Devils on social media, 1837 leaders are demanding “truth and accountability from the top” ahead of the peaceful protest through Salford.
They have dubbed the event ‘The Last Rally’, but we can only assume there’ll be more fan action as the weeks and possibly months of uncertainty continue.
As you can see, The 1837 are calling for like-minded supporters to rally outside another nearby amateur rugby league football team, Salford City Roosters, before marching on to a second meeting point and, ultimately, the Salford Community Stadium.
Starting in Eccles, with a stop at Barley Farm, before arriving at their club’s home ground in Barton-upon-Irwell, the plan is to gather as much awareness, support and local attention as possible.
Writing in the caption of the above post, they added: “We’ve dominated headlines. We’ve exposed bad ownership. We’ve stood together.
“A history worth fighting for. A future worth protecting. Our last chance to be heard. Don’t stay silent. Make it count.”
Following a recent meeting of the RFL and the two Greater Manchester Mayors, Andy Burnham and Paul Dennett, Salford Red Devils were given somewhat of an even further stay of execution, as it was confirmed that their ‘winding up’/administration deadline has now been adjourned until October.
Nevertheless, the majority of fans are still being kept in the dark about the exact and up-to-date nature of their rugby league club’s situation at present.
Back in June, it looked like new investors could very well still be injecting vital funds to keep key players and staff on the books, but jump to now, and it looks like they don’t know if even things like the big screen even belong to them much longer.
Salford Red Devils aren’t just in debt – our very identity is up for grabs.
The badge. The name. Even the big screen. All signed off as collateral to financiers.
Once again, the march and peaceful protest will take place this Friday, 19 September, prior to the next fixture against Wakefield Trinity.
Getting points on the board will no doubt be a big plus for all, but the game looks like it will very much serve as the backdrop to the wider ongoing saga.
Are you a Red Devils fan, and if so, will you be attending the demonstration? Better still, even if not, what do you make of the circumstances surrounding your side at the moment?
Fantastic to see the fans turn out again, Salford Red Devils will never die 1873 👹🏉 pic.twitter.com/Gne5peQK6u
Danny Jones -
31st January 2025 
