Gillingham 5-0 Bolton: Reprieved Wanderers ship five again in first game since being saved

Ex-Bolton defender Jimmy Phillips, who began and ended his career with his home town club as a player, was in his third stint as Wanderers caretaker boss

Bolton conceded five goals for a fourth game in a row, yet were still were roared on by a big army of fans as they lost at Gillingham in their first game since being saved by a midweek takeover.

Within 90 minutes of the game ending, Wanderers announced the appointment of Bolton-born former Rochdale and Barnsley boss Keith Hill as their new manager.

But not before on-loan Hearts midfielder Olly Lee had reintroduced himself by scoring twice for the Gills on his return to the League One club.

Lee scored in each half, interwoven with Connor Ogilvie's 27th-minute left-footed shot, Brandon Hanlan's 54th-minute goal and a Jordan Boon own goal.

It was a first victory for Gillingham under their new manager Steve Evans, but his first thoughts were for Bolton.

'The big win' was Bolton turning up

"The big win today was that Bolton Wanderers Football Club turned up on the team coach," Evans told BBC Radio Kent.

"They've got new owners, having got rid of some people who shouldn't really be running football clubs. And they've turned up here with good support.

"They've brought in some new faces and you're a little bit apprehensive when you've made four or five chances and not taken them but, once the first goal went in, our quality started to come through."

Wanderers were saved from liquidation on Wednesday when Football Ventures (Whites) Limited took control of the 145-year-old Football League founder members.

Bolton in transition - but still in business

A surge of new signings is expected, but caretaker boss Jimmy Phillips had only Jack Hobbs at his disposal as the former Liverpool, Leicester City, Hull City and Nottingham Forest defender returned to the club to make his first appearance of the season.

He was one of four changes, which included young defender Boon making his first start, and there were recalls for Eddie Brown and Romanian Dennis Politic. But, with so little time to prepare, they could not make much of an impact.

After starting with a 2-0 home defeat at Wycombe, followed by a goalless home draw with Coventry City, Bolton have now leaked five goals in successive games at Rochdale, Tranmere, Ipswich and Gillingham.

But, although 11 points adrift at the bottom of League One, following their pre-season 12-point deduction, they are at least still in business.

Fan reaction

Alan Houghton, a fan since the 1960s, talking to 5 Live on the supporters' coach travelling to Kent

"I'm a very happy Wanderer. This time last week we thought the Ipswich match would have been our last, so everybody's overjoyed.

"But we're extremely sad for our friends at Bury. Last weekend it was the other way. They looked as though they'd got a saviour and we hadn't.

"We're just so relieved that it eventually went through. It's all about rebuilding for now. That's what this season is all about.

"If we can give it our best efforts to avoid relegation, if we end up still going down but we've got a team that can compete in League Two next season, then that's a result."