Jewell has been taking time out after leaving Wigan once they had secured their Barclays Premier League status last season.

McAteer told Sky Sports News: “He would be one of the front-runners as he’s been resting.

“There’s a few big names out there and it’s a big, big job.

“It would be nice to see Paul get it though. He’s one of the new breed coming through and he did wonders at Wigan.”

Bolton are only above bottom club Derby in the Barclays Premier League on goal difference and chairman Phil Gartside believes it is the right time to look for a new manager.

They have won only once in their nine league games and taken only five points in the process.

Gartside said: “This has been a difficult decision for all parties but we have agreed that the time is right.”

Lee, however, was still talking up Bolton’s prospects after the home defeat by Chelsea, which turned out to be his last game in charge.

He has now been denied the chance of turning things around.

Lee was promoted from assistant to succeed Sam Allardyce at the end of last season.

Allardyce later moved to Newcastle after helping Bolton enjoy six successful seasons in the top flight.

He was always going to be a hard act to follow but Gartside was adamant from the outset that Lee was the right man to take the club forward, despite his lack of managerial experience.

Lee drafted in a general manager Frank McParland, rather than an assistant, and he too has left the club.

Gary Speed was named player-coach only to be stripped of that role last week amid talk of unrest in the dressing room.

Former Manchester United coach Ricky Sbragia was left at home to train the remaining players when they faced Rabotnicki in Macedonia in the UEFA Cup.

Sbragia could, however, take charge of the team on Sunday, when they face league leaders Arsenal at the Emirates.

The decision to leave Ivan Campo, a key player in the Allardyce era, on the sidelines – and not to include him in the UEFA Cup squad – was baffling.

So too was the decision to omit not only Speed but captain Kevin Nolan from the squad to face Chelsea.

Gartside added on the club’s official website, www.bwfc.co.uk: “Our efforts will now be to look for a replacement manager and to concentrate on the future.”