THIS wasn’t Phil Parkinson’s last stand but the Bolton boss is canny enough to know the wagons are circling.

These days a manager’s shelf life is finite and with just one win and five goals in the last 11 games, it could hardly have been considered a major shock had Ken Anderson carried through with his pledge to take “any actions necessary” to correct the club’s slump.

Such is the respect Parkinson still commands from many Bolton fans there was no mass call for his exit, no banners, no protests, even after the whistle blew on a tense and slender defeat to a side below them in the Championship table.

Social media is a different animal, yet all but his most vociferous critics would agree Parkinson has handled himself with dignity at a time when Wanderers desperately needed a leader to steady the ship.

It is also fair to highlight, however, that those who wish to see him continue at the helm now appear outnumbered by those who feel there is a need for change.

Only one vote matters, and it belongs to Wanderers’ owner, Anderson.

One can definitely question the wisdom of destabilising the manager’s position two days before a game of such importance. As ever with Anderson’s regular chairman’s notes, no punches were pulled. But some things are better left unsaid.

To some, his regular website missives have been a breath of fresh air, considering the wall of silence favoured by the previous regime. Yet there is no doubting their potency as a political tool, as seems to have been the case with the latest edition.

What influence did Anderson’s words have on players during Thursday and Friday in the build-up to the game? Did it contribute to the nervousness which was so evident on the day? The evidence was there after David Webb blew the final whistle, and men in white shirts turned zombie-like towards the supporters, then the tunnel, and began the hunched walk back to the dressing room. Protagonists were well aware of the possible consequences.

Parkinson’s body language had also told its own tale. Camped out at the extremities of his technical area for most of the game, chasing the ball to speed up play, he retreated deeper with hands in pocket until finally walking down the tunnel as his players still acknowledged the crowd.

Frazier Campbell’s goal did the damage after just seven minutes. Wanderers had half a dozen chances to get themselves on level terms but the lack of an incisive pass, or clinical touch was painfully evident.

Parkinson made seven changes, ripped up his usual style guide and went with a 3-4-1-2 formation which encouraged some genuinely decent performances out of his players.

Desperation poured out of every pore for Erhun Oztumer, a play-maker whose infectious desire to retrieve possession and attack at every opportunity makes him so easy to like.

Unfortunately for both the player and his manager, this was a day when the final touch just wasn’t there.

Christian Doidge impressed with his link play, a big step in the right direction after his only previous start.

Clayton Donaldson’s non-stop energy is earning him praise from the supporters and Joe Williams – given more license to get forward in this system – was at the centre of everything.

Despite all those positives, Wanderers emerged with a position no more enriched than it had been on Wednesday night against Nottingham Forest. And it might well be the result which convinces Anderson a new direction is needed.

Nat Lofthouse was just 10 years old the last time a Hull City side won on Bolton turf. So the omens were good when Parkinson asked for his players to be brave and carve out a result which could ease some pressure.

And as so often seems the case, Wanderers lulled everyone into a false sense of security by making an enterprising start, ruined by some dithering defending as Markus Henriksen’s low cross made its way to Campbell in slow motion before the former Manchester United man scooped the ball past Ben Alnwick.

Donaldson could have equaliser after running on to Oztumer’s fine pass moments later but the striker’s shot went over the bar.

Half the ground then thought Donaldson had hit the target as Doidge fed his strike partner, only for his shot to hit the side netting.

Into the second half and Oztumer continued to show a subtle touch in the build-up, only to fall short in the final third. After beating Stephen Kingsley all ends up on half way, he surged forward only to strike a tame shot straight at David Marshall.

Grosicki – who had been a thorn in Wanderers’ side last season – nearly doubled the lead when he seized on Kingsley’s cross, only to find Alnwick equal to his shot.

Shots rained in from Oztumer, Josh Vela and Pawel Olkowski but none were hit with enough venom to really worry the Hull keeper Marshall. And as Nigel Adkins’ side began to stall for time the air of resignation around the ground began to increase.

If Anderson decides Parkinson’s time as manager is over, his decision will be anchored as much in the empty seats around the ground as any great tactical debate among the fans.

There is no sense of dressing room disquiet, no great public show of anger as there may have been with some of Parkinson’s predecessors; if the manager is to be relieved of his duties then there must be a plan in place for someone who can take this team, assembled at the cost of less than £1million, and improve its lot.

Parkinson maintains the team is over-achieving, given the investment in players compared with others in the Championship. And for the time being, at least, it seems Anderson is in agreement.