Billy Bonds - Managerial Career

Managerial Career

After Bonds retired as a player in 1988, West Ham manager John Lyall appointed him as youth coach. He unsuccessfully applied for the manager's post when Lyall left the club in July 1989 after West Ham had been relegated. However, when new manager Lou Macari resigned seven months later, Bonds was appointed manager in February 1990. In his first full season in charge, he took the club to promotion, when they finished as runner-up to Oldham Athletic in 1990–91. He was awarded a second testimonial in the same season. West Ham were relegated in 1991–92 but Bonds again led them to promotion in 1992–93, when they finished as runner-up to Newcastle United, and took West Ham to a mid-table finish in 1993–94. He resigned in August 1994 when he was replaced by Harry Redknapp. He had spells in coaching at Queens Park Rangers and Reading before making a return to management with Millwall in May 1997. His tenure there was short-lived and he was sacked by the club the following year.