WANDERERS’ complaint against referee Sebastian Stockbridge looks unlikely to progress any further, The Bolton News understands.

Ian Evatt maintained after Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at MK Dons that he had been unhappy with something said by the Tyne and Wear official during the game.

The Bolton boss refused to go into specifics but claimed at the time that the comment had been heard by the fourth official and that Stockbridge had apologised during the half time break.

Nevertheless, Wanderers have yet to escalate the matter at time of writing and have declined to comment further.

Former Premier League and FIFA referee Keith Hackett told Football Insider that the FA would require testimony from the club, referee and officials – all of whom had an open mic channel to Stockbridge on the day – before taking the matter further.

“There are channels in which a manager can express his concerns if a referee is saying something untoward,” he said.

“What that manager has got to have, is proof of what that referee has said. Without proof, nothing will happen.

“What he’s also got to remember is the referee, two assistant referees and fourth official are all mic’d up and can hear every word the referee has said. That doesn’t mean to say he should be allowed to say what he wants.

“How has the manager got that information? I wonder where he’s got that from?

“In the modern game, referees and match officials have to be very careful of what they say. A fourth official can be dragged into a debate with a manager and can be misconstrued.

“When a referee approaches a player he has to be restrained and above board. It’s more so now than in the modern game than it was in my era.

“We had this before with Chelsea accusing Mark Clattenburg. I remember he was exonerated and they also had a bit of a dig at Graham Poll.

“At that point, we made clear that the referees need to be careful with their management style. Even if they are frustrated, they need to take great care with what they say and how they say it.

“What will happen now is, the FA are likely to write to him to ask for his observations and they will write to all the match officials to ask for their views.

“If it goes to an in-person hearing they will all have to attend.”