Ian Evatt admitted he was surprised that Salford City opted to change managers earlier this week with the replacement of Richie Wellens, who he believes will return to management bigger and stronger.
The Ammies parted company with Wellens earlier this week with the club sitting ninth in the League Two table.
Gary Bowyer has since been appointed as the manager at the Peninsula Stadium until the end of the season, after which he is poised to return to his role in the academy set-up at Championship side Derby County.
Evatt knows Wellens well from coming up against one another in their playing careers and the duo also did their coaching qualifications together.
The Bolton Wanderers manager has been in touch with Wellens since the decision earlier this week and believes the former Salford boss will return to management stronger for the experience.
But he believes that managers need time to be able to impose themselves on a football club, with Evatt believing he is a good example of that given Bolton's struggles earlier this season.
He said: “We’ve had this conversation before but I know Richie personally and I know managers need time. I’m a great example of that this season. We don’t know what goes on behind the scenes.
"Nobody knows apart from the people involved, so I don’t know. I’ve text Richie a couple of times this week and we’ve exchanged messages and I think he’ll come back bigger and stronger.
"But for me managers need time and they need a chance and transfer windows to bring their own players in to give them the best possible chance of success.
"I think Gary Neville’s expressed that himself in the past, but I’m speaking from afar. I don’t know what’s gone on there but that’s my opinion.”
