Jimmy Meadows temporarily took charge at Bolton in 1971 and the 1970-1971 season proved to be a disaster for Bolton, finishing the season off in a very poor 21st place, a position that condemned the club to relegation into the third division for the first time in their football history. Nat Lofthouse temporarily took charge after wards for a second spell before Jimmy Armfield was installed as their new manager in 1971. Armfield’s first debut season in charge at the club saw the side charge up the division after an awful start and finished the season off in a modest eighth place. The 1972- 1973 campaign proved to be a great one for the Trotters, a joyous season which they had not enjoyed for many years as they won the third division league title, in turn promoting the club back to the second tier of English football. Frank Worthington had just come to Bolton as the year 1974 came about and the 1973-1974 season proved to be the last campaign that saw Jimmy Armfield in charge at Bolton. Their season back in the second division was an acceptable one, finishing the campaign off in 11th place.
Ian Greaves took charge at the club by the time of the 1974-1975 season and looked to establish Bolton as a major force in English football and he witnessed a small improvement in Bolton’s league performances, his debut season saw the Trotters finish it off in 10th place.