RELATIVELY few managers get to step into a job with a club on the up – but Steven Schumacher appreciates the effort which has gone into improving Wanderers’ lot since the departure of Ian Evatt last week.

Considering the negativity which had enveloped the Toughsheet after last week’s 2-1 defeat to Charlton Athletic, it is minor miracle that Bolton go to Reading on Saturday with a good chance of climbing into the top six, with a buoyant fanbase to boot.

And though the spotlight was fixed firmly on his arrival, Schumacher was quick to applaud the work that had gone in over the past week from the interim management team of Julian Darby, Andy Taylor and Andy Tutte.

“It isn’t a bad starting point at all,” he said. “I would say it is a great position to come into a club, and the players deserve huge credit.

“Over the last two games it isn’t easy when a manager that they liked and respected has been changed.

“Obviously the players know what the objective is for this club, it's to try and keep doing well, keep trying to get the results that we are going to need to try and get out of the division.

“If we can continue the good week on Saturday away at Reading then that will stand us all in good stead.”

Schumacher has picked up mid-season in each of his two managerial roles to date.

His first was to step up from assistant manager at Plymouth to take over the reins from Ryan Lowe – who had moved on to Preston North End – and his next was to take over from Alex Neil at Stoke City.

As such, he knows that influencing the team is not a job that can be done overnight.

“It is not the easiest thing to do,” he said, “I have spoken to the lads here already, I have met Julian and Andy Taylor today, and I said that it doesn't make any sense for us to come in in with one-day’s preparation and completely rip things up.

“What the lads have done over the last few games has been good, the work that has gone on in the early part of this season has got us to the point right now where we're only one point outside the play-off places, so it doesn't make any sense to come in and make drastic changes.

“With the team at the moment that are playing with confidence, you've got to build a little bit of momentum, so hopefully we can continue that.”