Exclusive: Sky pundit drops claim on Steven Schumacher's Bolton Wanderers future - 'be careful what you wish for' | OneFootball

Lee Hendrie has told FLW his verdict on Steven Schumacher's future at Bolton Wanderers

Lee Hendrie has warned Bolton Wanderers to be careful what they wish for if they decide to dismiss Steven Schumacher as manager.

The 41-year-old is under pressure to turn things around with the League One side following their underwhelming start to the new season.

The Whites are aiming to fight for promotion to the Championship this campaign, but are currently outside the play-off places after 12 games played.

Schumacher took over at Bolton in January, and oversaw an eighth place finish in the previous term, but his position is now facing intense scrutiny from supporters.

Three wins from their last 10 league games has seen them lose ground on the likes of Stevenage, Bradford City and Cardiff City in these early stages.

Lee Hendrie backs Steven Schumacher to succeed at Bolton

Hendrie has issued a warning to Bolton supporters that want to see Schumacher replaced as manager, suggesting the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

The Sky Sports pundit has insisted that the former Plymouth Argyle boss will succeed with the Whites if given time, and that patience is needed through this more difficult run of form.

“I think you need to be careful what you wish for, really,” Hendrie exclusively told Football League World.

“I think he’s a really, really good manager.

“I think he needs that little bit of time at Bolton, obviously fans have always got something to say about managers getting sacked because things are probably not steering in the right way.

“They’re sort of mid-table.

“I think he can steer them to success eventually.

“As I say, be careful what you wish for when you start sacking managers at this stage of the season, particularly good ones and Schui’s a really, really good manager.

“I’d be sticking with him, I think he’s the right man for the job.”

Bolton are seeking a return to the Championship after falling out of the second division in 2019.

The Whites fell as far as League Two, but have been in the third tier since their 2021 promotion under Ian Evatt.

Evatt also guided the club to a play-off final in 2024, but a 2-0 loss to Oxford United consigned the team to another year at this level.

Bolton are currently ninth in the table with 17 points from their opening 12 games, leaving them seven points adrift of the automatic promotion places ahead of their clash with Huddersfield Town on 16 October.

Bolton shouldn’t make a rash decision on Steven Schumacher just yet

Schumacher has a proven track record at a League One level, and finding someone of that calibre to replace him will be easier said than done at this stage of the season.

He is still only 10 months into the job, and he took over a side that was already struggling for form under Evatt.

Given the number of players signed in the summer, it was always likely to take some time for everybody to adjust, and there are still positive signs that this squad has potential.

There are some very exciting parts of this side in Amario Cozier-Duberry and Mason Burstow, and getting the best out of them could prove key to Schumacher turning things around in the coming weeks.