"Makes no sense" - Pundit urges Bolton Wanderers to avoid big Ian Evatt call | OneFootball

Ian Evatt's side have recorded just one win from their first four League One outings

Carlton Palmer believes that Bolton Wanderers must be patient with Ian Evatt, despite growing unrest over his position in the dugout after a slow start to the campaign.

After suffering defeat at Wembley to Oxford United in the League One Play-Off Final in May, Evatt revealed that he considered walking away from the Toughsheet Community Stadium ahead of the current season, but remained in charge to oversee the beginning of his fifth season in charge of the club.

And whilst Bolton remain one of the division's big-hitters in terms of squad calibre and club reputation, Wanderers have got off to a stuttering start this season, winning just one of their opening four divisional outings, failing to score a league goal since a 2-1 victory at Leyton Orient on the opening day despite progressing into the Third Round of the EFL Cup.

Saturday's 2-0 home defeat to Exeter City did little to ease the pressure on the 42-year-old either.

Carlton Palmer calls for patience amid Bolton Wanderers' slow start

Speaking exclusively to FLW after the latest round of matches in the third tier, the former England defender Palmer believes that Whites supporters must see the long-term picture as far as this season is concerned, regardless of a stuttering start to the season.

"It's been a difficult start to the season for Bolton Wanderers and their manager Ian Evatt," Palmer began. "They've suffered back-to-back defeats, only four points for the start of the season and the fans are starting to show a bit of unrest."

"But I think there's got to be a bit of patience here. I know that there's disappointment which follows on from last season's play-off defeat and the expectations of the football club," he continued. "But, Evatt has done a fantastic job at Bolton Wanderers."

"It is only the start of the season, we're four games in. All managers come under pressure when you don't get results, but there needs to be a bit of sense in it all."

"I don't get how managers can be losing their jobs within the first five or six games of the season," the pundit stated. "You've given the manager pre-season, you've given him the funds to bring in players, he's worked with them all pre-season."

"So, to get rid of the manager early on in the season makes no sense whatsoever. A new manager would have to come in without a transfer window, so they'd be working with the same group of players."

"Ian Evatt has proven he knows what it takes to get a successful team going," Palmer added. "It's always very difficult. Look at the money Birmingham City, Huddersfield Town, Stockport County, Wrexham and Charlton Athletic are spending, and you've also got Barnsley (in the mix) as well as Reading and Peterborough United."

"Look at Peterborough United who are 11th on six points and Bolton are only two points behind," said the 58-year-old. "I think there has to be a realism about where the club's at, and what they could achieve."

Palmer concluded: "For me, if Bolton can get anywhere near the play-offs, it would be a fantastic season. So I think there needs to be a calmness and patience and give Ian the time to get through this disappointing period."

A tough predicament for Bolton Wanderers and Ian Evatt

While Palmer is of the viewpoint that managers should be given adequate time at the start of the season to transform fortunes, the reality is that across the EFL, we have already seen three managerial departures so far this season, including Wanderers' local and divisional rivals Blackpool, who parted ways with Neil Critchley on August 21st.

However, there's no disputing that in previous seasons, when given time, Evatt has been able to make his side an eventual force in the division, and supporters will be hoping for a similar tale to pan out, but after two failed attempts in the play-offs in successive seasons, this is a pivotal season for the Wanderers boss and the club.

Bolton had been handed tricky assignments in their first four games, particularly with Saturday's opponents also emerging victors against Rotherham United, but having defeated the Grecians 7-0 on home turf last campaign, this result came as a crushing blow to supporters.

On paper, Wanderers' squad is still extremely capable of mounting a promotion challenge despite the accumulation of just four points from as many games, and many will be hoping it is just a slow start before they risk being left significantly behind the likes of Birmingham, Wrexham and Stockport, who sit joint-top with a respective tally of 10 points each.