"Ultimately, you're going to lose your job" - Pundit questions Ian Evatt actions at Bolton Wanderers | OneFootball

The pundit has spoken exclusively to Football League World about the Trotters' manager's future at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.

Carlton Palmer has backed Ian Evatt to see out the season at Bolton Wanderers, despite a poor first half of the campaign.

The Trotters lost the League One play-off final to Oxford United back in May and since then, the Greater Manchester outfit have been on a downward spiral, although they are just four points off the play-off places.

Nevertheless, supporters have turned against their manager, and pressure has mounted further following an extremely disappointing 3-1 loss to Rotherham United.

A negative style of play has not been well received, especially after coming so close to promotion last season, and after being supported by the board just a couple of months ago, fans are getting more and more frustrated.

Palmer makes Evatt verdict after poor season

The 2024/25 campaign has not been a good one for Bolton, and that has been pushed back onto Evatt who has lost the confidence of the club's supporters.

League One has been dominated by Birmingham City, Wrexham and Wycombe Wanderers for the most part this season, and there would have been expectations that the Whites would be able to compete with them, but that has not been the case.

Despite this, former England and Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Palmer believes that the 43-year-old should be given more time to turn his side's fortunes around, although he has also stated that he must take more responsibility.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, he said: "Ian Evatt, who was backed by the club most recently in December, is under severe pressure. They are four points off a play-off place in mid-table, and they've been underperforming all season.

"He's been backed by the club, and I think they did the right thing in backing him, but there comes a turning point when the manager starts outing his players and after the defeat against Rotherham, he said the players need to look at themselves in the mirror. He said it's about time he called them out, and that sooner or later they need to take responsibility."

Palmer continued: "I agree with all of what he is saying, but he should keep that in house. Evatt should not come out publicly and say that. His side reached the League One play-off final last season, losing to Oxford, and I understand his frustration, but when you start criticising the players publicly, that's when you're in serious trouble. If you lose the players in the dressing room, then ultimately, you're going to lose your job.

"Like I've said from the start of the season, Evatt's been under pressure because the fans believed that Bolton should have done better last season, and he's been given every opportunity.

"I'm not for sacking managers, I’m really not. I think you're in the transfer window, and you give him the transfer window, and back him all the way and then make a judgement with Evatt come the end of the season, they could still be in the play-offs. Changing the manager doesn't always work."

Bolton must react to Rotherham defeat to salvage Evatt's job

While there is pressure on Evatt, he is not ready to admit defeat yet, and he will continue to lead Bolton forward for as long as possible.

The first thing he has to do is start winning games in an impressive manner once again, and get supporters off their feet when they watch their team play.

Their performance against Rotherham on Saturday was very poor against a team that have failed to make ground on the leading pack after a stuttering start to the season, and this earned a lot of backlash.

If Bolton can start to play attacking and exciting football, then Evatt could start to turn the tide. However, this will be an incredibly difficult thing for him to do with a lot of fan vitriol against him at this moment in time, and it would not be a surprise to see his tenure end before the month is up.