NEIL LENNON was today backed to turn around the fortunes of Bolton Wanderers, who are currently marooned at the foot of the English Championship.

The welcome vote of confidence came from a Trotters hero, Kevin Davies, who spent a decade at the club before departing for Preston last year.

The striker had made it clear he was interested in becoming part of the management team to replace Dougie Freedman, who was sacked earlier this month.

But, with the news Bolton have handed the job to Lennon, and that Johan Mjallby and Garry Parker will be reunited with the 43-year-old as assistants, Davies has backed the ex-Celtic boss to resurrect the fortunes of the ailing club. He said: "Neil needs to go in and give the whole club a huge lift.

"And, with his personality, I feel he is capable of doing that.

"They have made their decision and have got a really good, young manager now and he will go in and do a good job.

"He's dying to get back into the hot seat, and I think the club has made a good decision."

The ex-England hitman added: "The first thing he has to do is go in there and lift the mood and spirit and use all that enthusiasm he brings just to get the confidence back into the players."

The man who ended his successful four-year reign as manager of Celtic in May was also wanted by Saudi Arabian club, Al-Ittihad, who were dangling a carrot of a £2million-per-year salary.

But England has always been Lennon's preferred destination, though he had hoped to take over at a club in the top flight, or pushing for a place there.

After long and detailed discussions with the power brokers at the club over the past week, Lennon - who beat off competition from another former Celtic manager, Tony Mowbray and Stevie Clarke to land the job on a 12-month rolling contract - has been impressed by the potential to get back where he believes they belong.

But, he did not try to hide how much ground has to be made up and said: "I have a big job on to get Bolton up the table.

"The financial state of the club never came up.

"I will play a style of football that will please the Bolton fans.

"There is a good structure at the club. I know the stadium well, and there are some good players here."