It's Looking Grim for Gary Megson, Despite Backing from his Chairman

Gary Megson has been skating on thin ice for some time now, but it could be about to break beneath him unless Bolton can engineer a win in their next two games.

Chairman Phil Gartside has come out and offered his support to Megson, but where have we heard this before?

The very fact Gartside has felt the need to publicly back his under-fire manager speaks volumes for the problems currently mounting at the Reebok.

Four straight defeats, including Sunday's crushing loss to Blackburn have seen Bolton plunge back into the relegation zone.

Megson and his flops were booed off, so nothing new there then.

Megson has become hardened to such abuse while struggling to win over his critics since succeeding Sammy Lee two years ago.

He is constantly living in the shadow of Sam Allardyce, the most successful manager in Bolton's history.

But, while some of the abuse has been unjustified, neutrals readily admit Bolton were woeful against Blackburn and to make matters worse Megson has even admitted there are problems in the dressing room.

Sam Ricketts's humiliating own goal following a breakdown in communications with goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen seemed to epitomise the current malaise surrounding the troubled club.

Fans don't need an excuse to stick the boot into Megson, but they have one in Johan Elmander.

Elmander cost the club a record £8.2m but has scored only one goal this season and his attitude appears to fly in the face of the fact his team and manager are under great pressure.

His unacceptable lack of form is another stick with which supporters can beat Megson on a regular basis.

Bolton now face games against Fulham and Wolves and must surely win at least one of them if Megson is to survive the axe.

Gartside claims he is refusing to press the panic button, but it's a safe assumption his finger is hovering dangerously close to it.