New Bolton Wanderers boss Gary Megson accepts he won't win any popularity contests in his early days in charge at the Reebok stadium.

"I am not here for a popularity contest, I am here to improve the fortunes of this football club," he said. "It is not for me to dictate to people, they will react to results like everyone else.

"But some of the stuff the players are reading is so far wide of the mark it is laughable.

"Contrary to popular belief, the reaction towards me has been quite good. The people coming up to me have had Bolton at heart. I share those sentiments.

"I don't think the kind of atmosphere outside the club at the moment helps but the players are together and they know an awful lot more about me than the people who are writing about me."

Megson added: "There is a fantastic determination among the players to get out of the position we are in. That doesn't need any work.

"But maybe confidence is a little bit low, so we have to judge them on their work-rate, the effort they have put in and the commitment, things you don't really need confidence for.

"That was there in spades on Sunday and once that improves, it might allow us to move up a little bit and work on improving the passing and the finishing.

"There are a lot of positive things around this club.

"Maybe people are not focussing on them but myself and the players are."