That is the opinion of former Bury and Burnley midfielder Jamie Hoyland, who is now working as a pundit for local radio.
Hoyland said he was shocked at the bad feeling around the Reebok following the recent 1-0 defeat to Burnley, which he covered for BBC Radio Lancashire.
And, earlier this week on BBC Radio Manchester, he floated the possibility of a temporary management team from the club’s Academy taking charge to help reverse the bad vibe in the stands.
“When you get booing at the end (from the Bolton fans left behind), well it’s a horrible feeling,” said Hoyland, after watching Bolton stretch their winless streak at home to five league matches.
“The manager was stood there on his own and he hasn’t been able to get the result and everybody is thinking ‘well, will it be tomorrow or will it be tonight?’
“I know Dougie said he doesn’t feel any pressure – of course you do, you know it.
“Will it be inevitable? I don’t know. Can they afford to sack him or can they bring somebody in at this time of the season who is going to be able to turn it around? I don’t know.
“If they did, I think they would look inside the club to do it.”
Hoyland attended the Bolton youth side’s recent 5-2 victory over Manchester City and believes the Whites’ Under-18s coach David Lee, his former team-mate at Bury, could be the ideal man to put a bit of pride back into Wanderers.
“They have got good people at the Academy who they might think about – Jimmy Phillips, David Lee, and Gavin McCann works down there,” added Hoyland.
“I don’t know? Do they just give them the club and try to give it that impetus and create a feel-good factor to get it to the end of the season?”